Niger Floods Kill 151, Displace Thousands as Nigeria Faces Rainy Season Threat
A flood, triggered by torrential rains and a suspected dam collapse upstream has ravaged Mokwa, Niger State, and left at least 151 people dead while displacing over 3,000, according to local authorities.
The disaster, which struck on May 28, 2025, has left communities like Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa submerged, with rescue operations ongoing as Nigeria enters its rainy season, heightening fears of further flooding.
The floods, described as sudden and overwhelming, swept through homes and businesses, leaving survivors in despair. Witnesses described chaotic scenes, with floodwaters catching residents off guard.
Umar Jamil, a local shop owner, recounted, “We had to knock on some doors, but before people could escape, the flood had already caught up,” he told New York Times.
Local government chairman Jibril Muregi attributed the disaster’s severity to poor infrastructure, appealing for government intervention.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had previously issued a stark warning that 1,249 communities across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are at high risk of devastating floods in 2025.
Rescue efforts are underway, with the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (Nsema) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) recovering bodies and searching for missing persons. President Bola Tinubu has ordered emergency aid and temporary shelters.
However, many Nigerians have expressed skepticism about the adequacy of the response, with some citing past failures in addressing recurring floods, including a 2024 disaster in Niger State that displaced over 41,000 people.
Also, in 2022, Nigeria witnessed one of it worst flooding in recent history, with over 600 people reported dead.
As Nigeria fully enters the rainy season, experts warn of heightened flood risks across the country.
