By Huldah Shado
At least 21 people have been confirmed dead and 10 others declared missing after a devastating flood swept through Mokwa town in Niger State in the early hours of Thursday.
Triggered by a prolonged and intense downpour, the flood wreaked havoc on the Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa communities, submerging homes and washing away residents in its path.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the disaster, revealing that over 50 houses were destroyed and many families displaced.
“So far, 21 corpses have been recovered while 10 persons are still missing,” he said.
NSEMA, in collaboration with Mokwa Local Government authorities and local volunteers, launched a search and rescue operation immediately after the incident.
“At present, three survivors, a woman and her two children, are receiving treatment for wounds and shock at the Mokwa General Hospital,” Baba-Arah added.
As of press time, the rescue operation was still ongoing, with efforts focused on locating the missing and providing support to affected families.
The agency has also begun compiling reports to assess the full impact of the disaster and determine the next line of action.
The tragedy unfolded on the same day Niger State marked the second anniversary of Governor Mohammed Bago’s administration.
