THE death toll from the devastating flood in Mokwa, Niger State, has risen to 153, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).
The disaster, which struck after torrential rains on Wednesday night, has affected 3,018 people across 503 households, with 265 houses and three bridges destroyed.
NSEMA Acting Director General, Ibrahim Hussaini, confirmed that bodies were still being recovered, some buried beneath collapsed structures.
Over 100 people remain missing, and 11 injuries have been officially recorded.
Other impacted areas include Ndayako and Raba, which saw property damage but no reported fatalities.
Relief operations are ongoing, with security forces and aid agencies assisting search and recovery efforts.
Witnesses described harrowing escapes. One woman, Sabuwar Bala, fled in her underwear and lost her home entirely.
A Red Cross official, Adamu, emphasized ongoing searches, noting that many travelers were trapped in a collapsed mosque.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had issued a flash flood warning before the disaster, highlighting the risks worsened by climate change, poor infrastructure, and construction on waterways.
In 2024, floods claimed 321 lives across 34 Nigerian states — a grim reminder of the country’s increasing vulnerability during the rainy season.