Tragedy struck Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State on Tuesday night as torrential rainfall triggered a devastating midnight flood, claiming at least 21 lives and leaving dozens of people missing. The disaster, which occurred under the cover of darkness, caused massive destruction to property and rendered many residents homeless.
According to eyewitness accounts, the flood, which followed hours of intense rainfall, submerged over 50 residential houses and trapped numerous individuals in their homes. The worst-hit areas were identified as Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa communities in Mokwa town, where many victims were caught unprepared by the sudden surge of water.
In addition to the residential damage, several vehicles—including commercial buses, private cars, and cargo trucks—were swept away or rendered immobile by the rising waters. Motorists and commuters were seen battling to navigate the waterlogged roads in the absence of any immediate rescue efforts.
By Wednesday morning, rescue workers and community volunteers had recovered 21 corpses, including those of a woman and her two children. Many others were still unaccounted for as search and rescue operations continued. Survivors described harrowing scenes of people clinging to rooftops and trees in desperate attempts to escape the raging waters.
A statement issued by the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the scale of the tragedy. The agency attributed the disaster to “a torrential downpour of very high intensity that lasted several hours,” which resulted in surging floodwaters that “submerged and washed away over 50 residential houses with their occupants.”
The DG further disclosed that in response to the disaster, NSEMA, in collaboration with the Mokwa Local Government Authority, local divers, and community volunteers, had launched a coordinated search and rescue mission to locate survivors and retrieve bodies.
“As of now, 21 bodies have been recovered from the affected areas. Search and rescue operations are ongoing,” the statement read. “Three survivors—a woman and her two children—are currently receiving medical treatment for injuries and trauma at Mokwa General Hospital.”
At the hospital, medical personnel were seen attending to the injured, while family members of missing persons gathered in hopes of finding their loved ones. Local authorities have appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with ongoing rescue efforts.
This incident adds to the growing list of flood-related tragedies in Nigeria, raising concerns about urban planning, emergency preparedness, and climate change-induced weather patterns that continue to endanger vulnerable communities across the country.