A wave of sorrow swept through the Kpege community in Mokwa, Niger State, as a man, Anas Usman, recounted the heartbreaking loss of 17 relatives to a devastating flood.
Usman explained that the tragedy struck early in the morning, shortly after a night of heavy rainfall. His family, preparing to head to their farm, was caught off guard when torrents of water suddenly engulfed their home. The flood, which came without warning, overwhelmed the structure, causing it to collapse and trapping children, women, and men—many of whom were his immediate and extended family members.
He lamented that the origin of the flood remained unclear, and it surged through the area with such intensity that no one could escape in time.
In response to the disaster, Niger State Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba, acting on the orders of Governor Umaru Bago, visited the scene to assess the scale of the damage. During his visit, Garba confirmed that more than 115 bodies had so far been recovered, and that search and rescue operations remained active.
According to Garba, teams from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) were on ground, working tirelessly to find missing persons and provide relief to survivors.
At an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, the deputy governor met with affected residents and assured them of government support. He said that NEMA had supplied relief materials, which had already been handed over to local authorities for distribution to victims.
NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, confirmed that her team was leading efforts in the area. She stated that the agency had delivered food and essential non-food supplies—such as rice, blankets, and sleeping mats—to aid those impacted. She added that NEMA was collaborating with the Red Cross and NSEMA to extend support to the affected neighborhoods.
Umar revealed that based on an on-the-ground assessment conducted on Friday, May 30, at least 115 bodies had been recovered. Many of the injured, she noted, were treated either on-site or at nearby healthcare centers and had since been discharged. The worst-hit parts of Mokwa were identified as Unguwan Hausawa and Tiffin Maza communities.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government expressed its condolences to the grieving families. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, released a statement expressing the nation’s sympathy for the victims.
He said President Bola Tinubu had been fully briefed and had directed all emergency and security agencies to intensify their response efforts. The government, he added, was prioritizing the protection of lives and the swift delivery of aid to survivors.
Idris also commended the courage of rescue teams and volunteers who have continued to assist victims under difficult circumstances. He urged residents in vulnerable areas to comply with safety advisories and evacuation instructions from emergency officials.
Concluding his statement, the minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting affected families and communities during this time of mourning and recovery.
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