At least 111 people have died following predawn floods triggered by torrential rains in Mokwa, a northern Nigerian market town vital to the nation’s agricultural trade. Authorities warn that the death toll is expected to rise as more bodies continue to be recovered.
The flooding struck after midnight on Thursday, submerging homes and farmlands in the town located over 180 miles west of Abuja. Mokwa serves as a central hub where southern traders purchase produce like beans and onions from northern farmers. This disaster has devastated not only lives but also critical food supplies and local economies.
Images on social media reveal widespread destruction, with floodwaters engulfing entire neighborhoods and rooftops barely visible. Residents waded through waist-deep water, some trying to rescue family members or retrieve belongings. “We lost many lives, and the properties, our farm produce,” said local resident Kazeem Muhammed.
Niger State emergency agency officials say the full scale of the tragedy is still emerging, with more bodies arriving throughout Friday. Community leader Aliki Musa described the flooding as rare and overwhelming, saying such deluges might only occur once in decades.
Mokwa local government chairman Jibril Muregi called for urgent investment in flood-control infrastructure, emphasizing that critical measures are long overdue to prevent future catastrophes.
Nigeria continues to grapple with the dual climate crisis of prolonged dry seasons and violent rains, a dangerous combination that has repeatedly triggered devastating floods. Last September, 30 people died and millions were displaced in Maiduguri due to similar torrential downpours and a dam collapse.
Swifteradio.com
