Midnight flood in Niger sweeps 50 homes, leaves 21 dead, dozens missing, as rescue efforts intensify.
A Night of Horror: Flood Sweeps Through Niger Communities
It was supposed to be just another rainy night in Mokwa, Niger State. But as torrential rains poured relentlessly, it turned into a nightmare.
By dawn, homes were gone, lives were lost, and a community stood in mourning.
In the early hours of Tuesday, a severe flood engulfed Mokwa Local Government Area,
leading to one of the most devastating natural disasters the state has witnessed in years.
As of this report, 21 bodies have been recovered including a woman and her two children with many more still unaccounted for.
A Sudden Surge No One Saw Coming
Residents of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa were the hardest hit.
These peaceful communities became the epicenter of tragedy after hours of unrelenting rainfall led to flash floods that tore through the town in the dead of night.
“I just heard a loud rush, like a river crashing through.
Before I could understand what was happening, water burst into our home,” said 48-year-old Malam Sule, a resident who barely managed to escape with his wife.
Others were not so lucky. Entire households were swept away as over 50 residential buildings crumbled or submerged.
Roads vanished, vehicles floated like paper boats, and people clung to trees and rooftops, praying for daylight.
Devastation in Numbers
While the physical damage is immeasurable, the human toll has sent shockwaves across Niger State and beyond.
According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), three survivors a woman and her two children are currently receiving medical attention at Mokwa General Hospital.
The bodies of 21 individuals have so far been recovered from debris and downstream areas.
Local volunteers and divers have joined forces with the state emergency agency to intensify search and rescue operations.
The task is daunting, as swollen rivers and debris-strewn pathways complicate access to some parts of the town.
“The floodwaters came with such force that even trucks and commercial buses were tossed around like toys,” said one emergency responder.
Flooding Season Returns With Vengeance
Flooding in Niger State isn’t new. Every year, when the rainy season begins, residents brace for impact.
But this year, the intensity and timing of the downpour have caught many off guard.
Environmental experts had earlier warned that climate change is increasing the frequency and scale of floods across Nigeria.
And Mokwa a low-lying area near the River Niger remains particularly vulnerable.
“The rainfall was of unusually high intensity, lasting for hours.
This isn’t just seasonal flooding; it’s a disaster,” NSEMA’s Director General confirmed in a press release.
Community in Shock, Government Responds
As news of the tragedy spread, the Niger State Government expressed condolences and pledged swift response.
Relief materials are being mobilized, though affected residents say they need shelter, food, clean water, and urgent medical attention.
Children weep beside muddy ruins. Fathers dig with bare hands, hoping to find missing loved ones.
Mothers, some rescued with injuries, lie silently in makeshift tents beside the hospital.
“The loss is unbearable,” said Hajiya Rahmat, whose brother’s home was among the houses swept away.
“We have nowhere to go. We’re sleeping on the school field now.”
The local government chairman of Mokwa LGA has urged the federal government and NGOs to intervene,
stating that resources at their disposal are stretched to the limit.
Safety Tips During Flood Season
In light of the ongoing search and rescue efforts, officials have begun educating the public on flood preparedness:
Evacuate early if you live near rivers or flood-prone zones.
Avoid walking or driving through floodwaters. Just six inches of moving water can knock down an adult.
Listen to weather alerts and stay informed via local radio and mobile alerts.
Elevate valuables and switch off electrical appliances during heavy rain.
Keep an emergency bag with essentials: medications, IDs, flashlight, water, dry food.
Long Road to Recovery
Midnight flood in Niger
As the community mourns, the broader question remains:
Can this be prevented? Urban planning experts argue that unregulated building in floodplains and poor drainage systems are major contributors to flood disasters.
In Mokwa, many of the affected homes were built along water channels.
With rapid population growth and insufficient urban control, similar disasters may only become more common if action isn’t taken.
“We need to rethink how we develop our towns. Nature is pushing back, and this time, it’s pushing hard,” said environmental consultant Dr. Farouk Yahaya.
A Call for National Action
The Midnight flood in Niger is not an isolated incident. Across Nigeria, flooding has claimed hundreds of lives in the past decade, destroyed farmlands, and displaced communities.
From Lagos to Lokoja, Port Harcourt to Kaduna, it’s clear: Nigeria needs a comprehensive national flood management policy.
Disaster preparedness should go beyond reactionary measures. The government must invest in:
Early warning systems
Flood-proof infrastructure
Community training and education
Climate adaptation strategies
Enforcement of building codes
As climate change accelerates, so does the urgency for decisive, science-driven governance.
Read Also:
- School Collapse: Students Narrowly Escape Death
- Kwara Boat Accident Survivor Shares Ordeal
- Abia Billboard Accident: State Takes Over Victims’ Hospital Bills
Stories of Survival Amid the Ruins
Among the survivors is 13-year-old Yusuf, who held onto a coconut tree for five hours until the waters receded. “I was scared, I cried.
I kept shouting for my mum,” he recalled, now recovering with bruises and cold.
The woman rescued with her two children still hospitalized is reported to be stable but traumatized.
“She keeps asking about her husband, who is still missing,” said a nurse at the Mokwa General Hospital.
These individual stories are testaments to human resilience and stark reminders of the fragility of life when nature roars.
A Nation Must Not Look Away
What happened in Mokwa is more than a local disaster; it’s a warning bell.
As families count their dead, and volunteers dig through the wreckage, the rest of Nigeria must listen.
Climate-related disasters will become more frequent and more brutal unless mitigated by policy, planning, and preparedness.
For the people of Mokwa, healing will take time. But their pain must not be in vain.
Nigerians everywhere must ask: Are we ready for the next flood?
If you’re reading this and live in a flood-prone area, now is the time to act.
Share this article, spread awareness, and press your local leaders to invest in prevention.
And if you can, donate to verified emergency aid groups supporting affected families in Niger State.
Author: Zainab Kolade
Date: May 30,2025
About The Author
