The Deputy Governor of Niger State, Mr. Yakubu Garba, has paid a condolence visit to the victims of the devastating flood disaster that struck the Mokwa community earlier this week, as the official death toll has tragically climbed to over 100.
The Deputy Governor disclosed the updated casualty figure on Friday during an interview with journalists at the scene of the disaster. His visit was made on the directive of the state’s Governor, Umaru Bago, who tasked him with conducting an immediate on-the-spot assessment of the catastrophe.
The catastrophic flooding, which followed a relentless overnight downpour on Wednesday, wreaked havoc across several communities in Mokwa Local Government Area, submerging homes, displacing hundreds, and claiming lives. Particularly affected were the areas of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa in Mokwa town, where entire families were swept away in the raging floodwaters.
Niger Flood Tragedy: Death Toll Surpasses 100 as Deputy Governor Visits Victims in Mokwa
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had initially reported that 21 people were confirmed dead, but that figure has since surged drastically. “I have been briefed by officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), who have been on ground conducting search and rescue operations since the incident occurred,” Garba told reporters. “They have recovered over 100 bodies so far, and search efforts are still ongoing.”
The scenes at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Mokwa were heartbreaking, as survivors, many of whom lost family members, waited for aid and news of missing loved ones. Addressing the victims at the camp, Mr. Garba urged them to remain patient and strong in the face of overwhelming grief, assuring them that the state government was working urgently to provide relief and support.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy,” Garba said. “The state government has already received a consignment of relief materials from NEMA, and these items—food, blankets, and essential non-food supplies—have been handed over to the local government chairman for distribution to victims. I will personally report the situation to His Excellency, the Governor, to secure additional aid for those affected.”
He also took the opportunity to caution residents against the construction of homes and buildings on natural waterways. He emphasized the importance of respecting environmental planning laws and the need for increased community awareness to prevent similar disasters in the future.
Also present during the assessment visit was Mrs. Zubaida Umar, Director-General of NEMA, who confirmed the agency’s continued presence and involvement in rescue operations. “NEMA officials are actively supporting the efforts on the ground, in coordination with the Red Cross and NSEMA,” she said. “We have delivered emergency food items, mats, blankets, and other non-food essentials to support those displaced by this tragic event.”
The disaster has left hundreds of families in mourning and many others without shelter. Among the most heart-wrenching testimonies was that of Anas Usman, a local resident who lost 17 members of his extended family in the flood. With visible anguish, he recounted the horror of the floodwaters engulfing their home in the early hours of Thursday morning.
“We were just getting ready to go to the farm when water started rushing into our house. It happened so fast. We didn’t even know where the water came from,” Usman said. “Our house collapsed while people were still inside. We lost children, women, and men. All family members.”
The flood has been described as one of the worst natural disasters in Niger State’s recent history. Environmental experts have pointed to a combination of factors—including climate change, unregulated urban development, and blocked water channels—as possible contributors to the scale of the flooding.
As search and recovery operations continue, the state government is mobilizing additional resources to provide medical support, temporary shelter, and food for the affected families. The Deputy Governor reiterated the administration’s commitment to the safety and welfare of its citizens and promised long-term solutions to mitigate future flooding incidents.
“The lives lost can never be replaced, but we owe it to them and to the survivors to act quickly, decisively, and with compassion,” Garba concluded.
