At least 110 people have lost their lives due to severe flooding caused by heavy rains in central Nigeria, officials reported to the media.
The intense rainfall lasted for several hours, according to Abullahi Baba-Arah, head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA). He explained that rising floodwaters inundated and swept away more than 50 homes along with their residents in the town of Mokwa.
Read more: Over 13,000 Evacuated as Severe Floods Batter Johor, Malaysia
The Nigerian government has expressed deep condolences over the tragedy. Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, stated that security and emergency services have been mobilized to assist in ongoing search and rescue efforts.
NSEMA identified the Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa neighborhoods of Mokwa as the hardest hit areas. Muhammad Shaba Aliyu, the District Head of Mokwa, remarked that it has been six decades since such devastating flooding occurred in the community. He appealed for government support to aid recovery efforts.
Rescue operations continue as many people remain in danger, officials said. A local fisherman, Danjuma Shaba, told AFP news agency that he has become homeless after his house collapsed.
Flooding during the rainy season, which spans April to October, is a recurring problem in Nigeria. Authorities have issued warnings about heavy rains expected across 15 of the country’s 36 states.
Last year, northern Nigeria was also severely affected by flooding, resulting in fatalities, mass displacement, and widespread damage to homes and infrastructure. In 2022, catastrophic floods displaced approximately 1.3 million people and caused over 600 deaths across the nation.
