A devastating flood triggered by torrential predawn rain has left at least 111 people dead in Mokwa, a bustling agricultural town in Nigeria’s Niger State, local officials confirmed on Friday. Emergency responders and community volunteers are continuing rescue operations, as many remain missing and the death toll is expected to rise.
The flooding began shortly after midnight on Thursday, as intense rainfall overwhelmed the town’s drainage systems and swept through homes and businesses. Mokwa, located over 380 kilometers (236 miles) west of Abuja, is a major trade hub where northern farmers supply produce like beans, onions, and grains to southern Nigerian markets. The town’s central position makes it a critical point in the country’s food supply chain.
The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) said it had not yet determined the exact volume of rainfall, but confirmed the storm was among the most severe the region has faced in years.
“We’re dealing with an extraordinary hydrological event,” a senior NIHSA official said. “The intensity and volume of the rain far exceeded what is normal for this region. We are seeing firsthand the growing impact of climate change on seasonal weather patterns.”
Residents of Mokwa were asleep when the floodwaters surged through the town. Videos and images shared on social media showed entire neighborhoods submerged in muddy brown water, with only rooftops peeking above the flood. In several clips, families were seen wading waist-deep through streets, clutching children and bags as they tried to escape the rising currents.
“It was like a nightmare,” said Ibrahim Sule, a local resident who narrowly escaped with his family. “The rain started around midnight, and suddenly water was everywhere. It came so fast — people were screaming, trying to grab their children and run. Some were trapped inside their homes. We tried to help, but we couldn’t reach everyone in time.”
Alhaji Aliki Musa, a respected community elder in Mokwa Local Government Area, described the flood as a mysterious seasonal phenomenon, suggesting it went beyond natural explanation.
“This kind of water, we don’t see it every time. It comes like spiritual water — it’s seasonal,” he told reporters. “There is not even enough water around Mokwa normally to cause this kind of flooding. It is not ordinary.”
The Mokwa Local Government Chairman, Abdullahi Jibrin Muregi, gave an emotional press briefing on Friday, confirming the official death toll and highlighting the scale of the devastation.
“This is a dark moment for our people,” Muregi said. “So far, we have recorded at least 111 deaths, and we fear more will be found as the water recedes. Entire communities have been washed away. Hundreds have lost their homes and livelihoods.”
Muregi added that emergency shelters had been set up in schools and mosques across the region, where displaced families are receiving food, water, and temporary bedding. However, local officials are calling for urgent support from the federal government and humanitarian agencies.
“We need immediate assistance,” he said. “The situation is beyond our local capacity. We are calling on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), NGOs, and well-meaning Nigerians to come to our aid.”
The floods in Mokwa mark the latest in a series of climate-related disasters affecting Nigeria. In September last year, torrential rains and a dam collapse in the northeastern city of Maiduguri resulted in at least 30 deaths and displaced millions. That incident further strained humanitarian efforts already burdened by the Boko Haram insurgency in the region.
Experts have long warned that Nigeria’s dual crisis of prolonged droughts and extreme seasonal flooding — both worsened by climate change — poses a growing threat to lives, infrastructure, and national food security.
“What we’re seeing is not isolated,” said Dr. Amina Garba, a climate scientist based in Kaduna. “Northern Nigeria has been swinging between dry spells and destructive rains. Without better flood management infrastructure, this will keep happening.”
She stressed the need for long-term investment in early warning systems, dam maintenance, and sustainable urban planning to reduce the risks posed by extreme weather events.
In Mokwa, the human toll is becoming clearer with each passing hour. Residents like Fatima Danladi, whose entire home was swept away, say they are left with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
“My children and I were sleeping when the water came in. Everything happened so fast,” Danladi recounted tearfully. “We couldn’t even take anything. My house is gone. We don’t know where to go or what to do now.”
Local volunteers, religious leaders, and traditional rulers are rallying to support victims with what little resources they have. Food donations, clothing, and basic medical supplies are being collected in surrounding towns to send to Mokwa.
As the search for survivors continues, hopes are dimming for those still missing. Emergency workers are battling not only waterlogged terrain but also the trauma and despair gripping the community.
President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu has yet to issue a statement on the disaster as of press time, though pressure is mounting on federal authorities to prioritize climate disaster response and invest in mitigation efforts in vulnerable regions like Niger State.
“This tragedy is a wake-up call,” Dr. Garba added. “If we don’t act now, the next flood will be worse — and we won’t be able to say we weren’t warned.”
For now, the people of Mokwa face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from the ruins, even as they mourn the loss of friends, neighbors, and family members swept away by nature’s fury.
