# Tags
#Disaster/Tragedy

FLOODS DEVASTATE MOKWA IN NIGER STATE, AT LEAST 111 PEOPLE CONFIRMED DEAD

At least 111 people have lost their lives in central Nigeria after severe floods submerged the market town of Mokwa in Niger State. The disaster occurred following torrential rains that lasted for several hours on Thursday, with reports suggesting a dam collapse in a nearby town exacerbated the situation.

The flooding has displaced a significant number of people, with rescuers continuing to find more bodies into Friday afternoon. Initially, reports indicated 88 deaths, but Niger State emergency agency spokesman Ibrahim Audu Husseini confirmed that at least 23 more bodies were discovered, bringing the toll to 111. However, this number may rise as search efforts persist.

“More bodies have just been brought and are yet to be counted, but we have at least 111 confirmed already,” Husseini said in a telephone conversation.

Mokwa, located approximately 220 kilometers west of Abuja, serves as a crucial meeting point for traders from the south to purchase food from northern growers. The town’s flooding highlights Nigeria’s vulnerability to seasonal floods, particularly in communities along the Niger and Benue Rivers.

The chairman of Mokwa local government area, Jibril Muregi, attributed the flood’s devastating impact to poor infrastructure. He urged the government to initiate the “long overdue” construction of waterways in Mokwa under a climate resilience project.

This disaster echoes a similar incident last September, where torrential rains and a dam collapse in Maiduguri resulted in severe flooding, claiming at least 30 lives and displacing millions. The humanitarian crisis in the region was further worsened by the Boko Haram insurgency.

As the situation continues to unfold, concerns about climate change and infrastructure development remain paramount. The Nigerian government faces growing pressure to address these issues and mitigate the impact of future floods.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *