At least 117 people have died and several others remain missing following severe flooding in the town of Mokwa, located in Niger State, central Nigeria. Torrential rains starting late Wednesday and continuing into Thursday caused the floods, inundating large parts of the area, including the busy market town.
According to Ibrahim Audu Hussein, spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), rescue operations are ongoing as officials continue to recover victims. The death toll has risen sharply from initial reports of 21 casualties to 117 confirmed deaths so far.
"We have recovered 115 bodies with more expected as floodwaters swept people into the River Niger and downstream areas," said NSEMA director Ibrahim Hussaini. Approximately 3,000 homes across two communities have been submerged, displacing many residents.
Mokwa, situated approximately 220 kilometers west of Abuja, serves as a key trading junction linking southern traders and northern growers. The recurring flooding during Nigeria's annual rainy season often severely impacts communities located near the Niger and Benue Rivers.
Images circulating on social media show submerged neighborhoods with rooftops barely visible and residents wading through waist-deep waters, attempting to salvage belongings or assist others. The Mokwa local government chairman, Jibril Muregi, cited poor infrastructure as a significant factor exacerbating flood damage and called for urgent government action on long-pending waterway construction projects aimed at climate resilience.
Flooding is an ongoing challenge in Nigeria, with the 2022 rainy season proving especially deadly, causing over 600 fatalities and displacing 1.4 million people nationwide. The destruction of extensive farmland also heavily impacted food security in the region.
