200 Dead, 500 Missing as Worst Flood in Decades Devastates Mokwa, Nigeria

Panic and grief have gripped the central Nigerian town of Mokwa after catastrophic flooding killed over 200 people and left at least 500 more missing, local officials confirmed on Sunday.

The deadly flood, triggered by torrential rainfall on Thursday, is being described as the worst to hit the area in over 60 years. Raging waters tore through the Mokwa districts of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa in Niger State, sweeping away homes, businesses, and lives.

Rescue operations have since been called off, as authorities no longer believe there is a chance of finding survivors.

“We’ve ceased rescue efforts because we believe no one can still be found alive,” said Musa Kimboku, Mokwa’s Deputy Vice-Chairman, in a statement to the BBC.

The scale of the devastation has overwhelmed local authorities. Bodies have been discovered far from Mokwa, with reports of some washing ashore in the town of Rabba—more than an hour’s drive away.

“We’ve instructed nearby communities to bury any corpses they find,” Kimboku added.

District head Muhammadu Aliyu announced that mass grave exhumations will begin soon to prevent outbreaks of disease.

“Some of the bodies can’t be recovered—they’ve gone through the River Niger,” he noted.

Residents shared harrowing stories of loss and survival. Adamu Yusuf, a survivor, lost his wife and newborn baby.

“I watched helplessly as water washed away my family. I survived because I could swim,” he said.

Another local, Saliu Sulaiman, recounted how the flood left him both homeless and financially devastated.

“I lost at least $1,500—the proceeds from selling my farm produce. I thought of going back inside for it, but the water pressure was too terrifying.”

Unconfirmed reports from residents suggest the flooding may have been worsened by a nearby dam burst, though officials have yet to verify this claim.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) announced on Sunday that it has begun distributing relief materials to survivors. The agency also reported damage to roads and bridges, which is further disrupting movement and economic activity in the region.

The Nigerian Red Cross described the flooding as having caused “significant loss of life and widespread distress,” urging for immediate humanitarian assistance.

Floods are a recurring disaster in Nigeria during the April–October rainy season. The country experienced widespread flooding in 2024, and in 2022, over 600 people were killed while 1.3 million were displaced.