Flash Floods Kill 115, Displace Thousands in Nigeria

At least 115 people have been confirmed dead and dozens injured following flash floods that swept through central Nigeria’s Mokwa town in Niger State. Emergency responders say the death toll is expected to rise as search efforts continue for missing residents.

The floods, triggered by torrential rains from Wednesday night into early Thursday, submerged homes and swept people into the River Niger. According to Ibrahim Audu Husseini, spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, entire families have gone missing.

“We have so far recovered 115 bodies. A family of 12, for instance—only four members have been found,” Husseini said. He added that search teams need heavy equipment to retrieve bodies buried under collapsed homes.

The Red Cross reported 78 people hospitalized, while local media said over 5,000 residents have been displaced. In one tragic account, more than 50 children from an Islamic school were reported missing.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) described the disaster as an “unprecedented flood,” with police and military personnel deployed to support rescue operations.

Mokwa, about 380 kilometers west of Abuja, is a key agricultural hub. Community leader Aliki Musa described the flooding as unlike anything the town has ever seen. “It’s like spiritual water. This kind of flood may not return for 20 years,” he said.

Eyewitnesses shared harrowing tales. Mohammed Tanko, a civil servant, said 15 relatives died in one house. “We lost everything,” he said. Fisherman Danjuma Shaba now sleeps in a car park. “My house has collapsed,” he said. A yam vendor, Sabuwar Bala, recounted escaping in her underwear, with nothing but borrowed clothes.

The Red Cross also confirmed the collapse of two bridges, raising concerns about access and further displacement. Meanwhile, children playing in stagnant waters risk exposure to waterborne diseases, with some corpses still visible in the open.

Nigeria’s rainy season has just begun, and floods remain a deadly annual threat due to climate change, poor drainage, and unchecked urban development. NEMA warned against building on waterways and stressed the importance of clearing drainage channels.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had forecast possible flash floods in 15 states, including Niger, earlier this week. Last year, over 1,200 people died and 1.2 million were displaced during one of Nigeria’s worst flood seasons on record.