By Akpos Oje
A devastating flood swept through Mokwa town in Niger State in the early hours of Thursday, submerging homes and claiming dozens of lives, including 12 members of a single family.
The disaster, triggered by intense overnight rainfall, struck around 3:00 a.m. while most residents were asleep, leaving many with no chance to escape.
The Kpege neighbourhood was the hardest hit, with eyewitnesses describing scenes of total destruction and chaos.
Survivors recounted how entire buildings were washed away by the surging waters, with several bodies already recovered and many more, including women and children, still missing. Mohammed Usman, a resident who narrowly escaped, described the event as “apocalyptic,” saying many victims were trapped inside submerged houses as the water rapidly engulfed the area.
In response, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has deployed personnel and equipment from its Minna Operations Office, with additional support from the Nigeria Red Cross, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and local volunteers. A specialised team from NEMA headquarters in Abuja has also arrived with intensive care ambulances, rapid intervention vehicles, and mobile water treatment systems.
The military’s Disaster Response Units from the Kainji formation have been contacted to assist ongoing rescue operations. NEMA stated that priorities include the rescue and evacuation of survivors, treatment of the injured, provision of temporary shelter, food, clean water, and security, along with restoring normalcy to the devastated community.
As hundreds of residents face displacement, calls for urgent intervention from state and federal authorities are growing louder. The disaster, among the worst natural calamities in Niger State’s recent history, has highlighted the urgent need for better flood management systems, early warning mechanisms, and infrastructure to bolster climate resilience in flood-prone communities.
