Niger : Over 50 almajiris missing as flood claims 12 members of family

At least a dozen members of a single family have been confirmed dead, and over 50 pupils from Quranic schools remain unaccounted for following a devastating overnight flood that tore through parts of Mokwa Local Government Area in Niger State.

The disaster, which struck late Wednesday, submerged entire neighborhoods in Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa communities after hours of intense rainfall. Eyewitnesses described the deluge as sudden and overwhelming, sweeping away homes and leaving a trail of destruction.

Initial figures from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) reported 21 fatalities, but local accounts suggest the death toll may surpass 60. Many of the victims were women and children. Residents said rescue operations were still underway as bodies continued to be pulled from the debris.

Among the deceased was a student of the Niger State College of Health Technology, Binta, who was visiting Mokwa for the holidays. Her remains have been recovered.

READ ALSO:More bodies recovered as death toll from Mokwa flood hits 60

In one particularly tragic case, Hajiya Hassana Mokwa recounted how 12 of her brother’s 13 family members perished. “Only one survived and is currently hospitalized,” she said, adding that pupils of a Quranic school run by her cousin were also lost when floodwaters flattened the building.

Mallam Hamza Mahmud, another resident, reported that while two of his family members had been found dead, three were still missing. “More than 60 people have died. This is unlike anything we’ve seen before,” he said.

Local authorities have begun providing temporary shelter in public schools for displaced families. Jibril Abdullahi Muregi, chairman of Mokwa LGA, said the community is in urgent need of relief. “We need food, shelter, medical aid—people are traumatized,” he said.

NSEMA’s Director-General, Abdullahi Baba Arah, described the incident as a “deadly flood disaster,” stating that more than 50 homes were either submerged or swept away. Arah said emergency teams, aided by local volunteers and divers, are still combing through the wreckage for survivors and bodies.

The flood also disrupted road transport, severing the main highway connecting northern and southern Nigeria through Mokwa, leaving travelers stranded.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago expressed condolences, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” He directed emergency agencies to assess the full scope of the damage and provide swift intervention.

Meanwhile, the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) called the situation “catastrophic” and urged swift action to provide relief to affected families.

Experts are warning that without proactive infrastructure investment, such disasters may become more frequent. Dr. Sadeeq Abubakar Mohammed of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, emphasized the need for dams, dykes, and modern drainage systems. “We must invest in flood control to protect lives and farms, or risk worsening food insecurity,” he said.

Mokwa, long plagued by erosion and previous floods, has once again become a flashpoint in Nigeria’s climate vulnerability. Residents say years of government inaction have left the town exposed.

(DAILY TRUST)