Severe Floods in Northern Nigeria Leave Over 111 Dead Amid Rising Climate Change and Heavy Rainfall
Severe flooding in Mokwa, Nigeria, caused by torrential rains, claims at least 111 lives, underscoring the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades.
Predawn downpours unleashed devastating floods in Mokwa, a bustling market town in northern Nigeria, leaving at least 111 people dead and fears mounting that the death toll could rise further in the coming hours. Officials said Friday that after midnight on Thursday, intense rainfall rapidly inundated entire neighborhoods, overwhelming local infrastructure and catching residents off guard while they slept. The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency has not yet released precise rainfall totals for the affected region, situated more than 180 miles west of Abuja, but described the event as extremely rare and severe.
The flooding struck with little warning, submerging homes and forcing desperate families to wade through waist-deep, muddy water in search of safety. Images circulating on social media showed rooftops barely visible above the waterline, while groups of residents struggled to salvage personal belongings and rescue stranded neighbors. "We lost many lives, and the properties, our farm produce. Those that have their storage have lost it," recounted Kazeem Muhammed, a resident of Mokwa, underscoring the catastrophic impact on both human life and local agriculture.
As emergency services continued recovery operations, officials warned that the confirmed death toll was likely to climb. "More bodies have just been brought and are yet to be counted," stated Ibrahim Audu Husseini, spokesman for Niger State’s emergency management agency, highlighting the evolving scale of the tragedy. The destruction comes at a critical time for Mokwa, a major trade hub where farmers from across northern Nigeria sell vital crops such as beans and onions to merchants from the south.
This latest disaster reveals the vulnerability of northern Nigerian communities to extreme weather swings — prolonged droughts punctuated by sudden, overwhelming rains. Experts attribute the increasingly erratic weather patterns to climate change, warning that excessive downpours during the short wet season could become more common, especially when combined with inadequate flood-control measures. Community leader Aliki Musa described the event as nearly unprecedented, likening the deluge to a rare “spiritual water” that arrives once in a generation.
Local officials echoed calls for urgent action to prevent further tragedies. Jibril Muregi, chairman of Mokwa’s local government area, emphasized the pressing need for new flood-control infrastructure. "This critical infrastructure is essential to mitigating future flood risks and protecting lives and property," he said, urging both state and federal authorities to prioritize investment in mitigation projects.
The Mokwa floods follow similar disasters across Nigeria’s north, including deadly inundations in Maiduguri last September, when torrential rains and a dam collapse killed dozens and displaced millions already affected by conflict. As search and rescue efforts continue in Mokwa, overwhelmed residents brace for further hardship, mourning lost loved ones and facing uncertain prospects for rebuilding their lives and livelihoods.
