At least 111 people have died in central Nigeria after severe flooding submerged the market town of Mokwa in Niger State. The heavy rains, which persisted for several hours on Thursday, were exacerbated by the collapse of a dam in a nearby town, intensifying the flooding and displacing numerous residents.
Rescue teams continued their efforts into Friday afternoon, recovering more bodies and confirming the death toll, which could rise as search operations proceed. Initially reported as 88 fatalities, the count later increased as additional victims were discovered.
Mokwa, located approximately 220 kilometers west of Abuja, is a key trade hub where southern traders purchase agricultural products from northern growers. The flooding has significantly impacted this vital economic center.
This tragic event mirrors a similar incident last September in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria, where heavy rains and a dam collapse resulted in over 30 deaths and displaced millions, aggravating existing humanitarian challenges stemming from regional conflicts.
Seasonal floods are a recurrent hazard in Nigeria, especially in communities along the Niger and Benue Rivers. Prolonged dry seasons in the far north, worsened by climate change, are followed by brief but intense wet periods, leading to severe flooding.
Visual accounts shared on social media depict neighborhoods submerged under muddy floodwaters, with rooftops barely visible and residents wading through waist-deep water attempting to salvage belongings or assist others.
Local government chairman Jibril Muregi attributed the severity of the flooding to inadequate infrastructure and urgently appealed for the commencement of long-delayed waterway construction projects under a climate resilience initiative to better protect Mokwa from future floods.
