Deputy Governor visits devastated Mokwa communities as survivors await relief amid warnings against waterway encroachment
Niger State has been plunged into mourning as floodwaters claimed at least 100 lives in Mokwa Local Government Area, with the death toll expected to rise as search operations continue. The disaster struck Wednesday night when torrential rains overwhelmed Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa communities, sweeping away homes and drowning residents in their sleep.
Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba, who visited the ravaged communities on Friday, shared the grim update after receiving briefings from National and State Emergency Management Agencies (NEMA/NSEMA). “Over 100 bodies have been recovered so far, and we’re still searching,” he told journalists, his voice heavy with emotion. The deputy governor’s visit followed Governor Umaru Bago’s directive for immediate assessment of what has become one of the state’s worst flood disasters in recent years.
At a makeshift camp for displaced survivors, Garba pleaded for patience as relief efforts mobilize. “We’ve received emergency supplies from NEMA which are being distributed through the local council,” he assured victims whose homes and livelihoods were washed away. The deputy governor promised to personally escalate needs to the governor for additional support.
With entire neighborhoods now underwater, Garba issued a stern warning: “Building on waterways must stop. Nature will always reclaim its path.” His words echoed growing concerns about unchecked construction along floodplains across Nigeria’s riverine communities.
As survivors bury their dead and emergency workers comb through debris, the Mokwa tragedy serves as a devastating reminder of climate vulnerability in flood-prone regions. Authorities now face dual challenges of immediate humanitarian response and long-term measures to prevent future catastrophes.
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