The death toll in the flood disaster which wreaked havoc in the Mokwa area of Niger State has risen to 110.
The flood, caused by heavy downpours lasting for several hours, said the head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (Nsema), Abullahi Baba-Arah.
He added that “surging flood water submerged and washed away over 50 residential houses with their occupants” in the town of Mokwa.
The Federal government has expressed its “profound sorrow” over the floods, with the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, saying that security and emergency agencies have been directed to assist in the search and rescue operation.
According to Nsema, the Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa districts of Mokwa were worst hit.
Mokwa’s District Head, Muhammad Shaba Aliyu, said it has been “60 years” since the community had suffered this kind of disaster.
“I beg the government to support us,” Mr Aliyu said.
The search and rescue operation is still ongoing, and many more people are still at risk, authorities say.
A local fisherman told reporters that he had been left homeless.
“I don’t have a house to sleep in. My house has already collapsed,” Danjuma Shaba said.
Nigeria frequently faces floods during the rainy season, which typically lasts from April to October.
The authorities have issued warnings of heavy rain in at least 15 of the country’s 36 states.
Last year, many sections of northern Nigeria endured extreme rains and flooding, resulting in deaths, displacements, and loss of homes and infrastructure.
In 2022, the country experienced severe flooding, forcing around 1.3 million people from their homes and resulting in more than 600 deaths.
