The Voice News: At least 115 people have died in a devastating flood in Mokwa, located in Nigeria’s Niger State. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as floodwaters have swept away hundreds of people. The deluge has also destroyed thousands of homes.
Husseini Issa, head of operations in Minna, the capital of Niger State, said that many people are still in danger, and rescue operations are ongoing.
Speaking to AFP, Ibrahim Odu Hussaini, spokesperson for Niger State’s emergency management agency, said, “We have recovered 115 bodies so far. We fear more bodies will be found, as the floodwaters carried people into the Niger River from afar. Bodies are still being recovered from the river.”
The disaster followed heavy rainfall last Wednesday, which lasted for several hours and caused widespread destruction. Many homes were washed away, and numerous residents remain missing. The situation deteriorated further when a nearby dam collapsed.
Mokwa is a vital location in Niger State, serving as a major transit point for trade in the southern region of Nigeria. It is also frequently used by farmers from the northern part of the country.
Mohammed Tanko, a 29-year-old government employee and resident of Mokwa, reported that he lost 15 members of his family in the flood. “Our house was swept away. We’ve lost everything,” he said.
The rainy season has just begun in Nigeria and typically lasts six months, bringing heavy rainfall. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had issued flash flood warnings for 15 out of the country’s 36 states from Wednesday to Friday. With such a devastating start to the season, locals fear the situation could worsen in the coming months.
