Casualties recorded in the dreadful flood incident that happened recently in Mokwa, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, have been confirmed to be 207 and over 500 injured from two affected communities.
Naijaonpoint reports that the figures were revealed by the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba Arah, during a media briefing in Minna on the agency’s disaster response activities across the state.
Arah said the number of people still missing could not yet be determined, describing the disaster as one of the worst in recent history.
To support those rendered homeless by the flood, the NSEMA boss said the state government disbursed ₦500,000 to each affected household to help them secure new accommodation.
“In addition to the cash support, we have also distributed food items and other relief materials to ease the hardship being faced by the victims,” Arah stated.
As part of proactive measures, Arah disclosed that NSEMA had flagged off its annual flood sensitisation and early warning campaign across all eight emirate councils in Niger State.
“These efforts aim to increase public awareness, encourage preparedness, and reduce flood risks in vulnerable communities through community engagement and educational materials,” he said.
He urged residents living in flood-prone areas and waterways to relocate to safer locations before the rains intensify.
The NSEMA DG also highlighted the agency’s interventions in other emergencies, including fire outbreaks and explosions.
He listed incidents such as the dynamite explosion at Sabon Pegi, the Diko tanker explosion, and the Agaie tanker fire among those the agency had responded to.
“We have continued to support victims of both residential and commercial fire disasters across the state,” Arah said.
Arah expressed appreciation to Governor Mohammed Umar Bago for the government’s support, which he said has enabled the agency to respond swiftly to emergencies.
“We are also grateful to traditional institutions, community leaders, volunteers, and humanitarian partners for their continued collaboration,” he added.
He reaffirmed NSEMA’s commitment to promoting disaster preparedness, resilience, and rapid response to emergencies across the state.