Torrential rains sweeping across Nigeria have left at least 150 people dead in the commercial city of Mokwa, a key trading hub where northern farmers sell their produce to southern merchants. Authorities have warned that the death toll is likely to rise as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
So far, the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency has not released official data on the volume of rainfall since midnight Thursday. However, accounts from locals and images circulating on social media reveal the disaster’s severity: entire neighborhoods submerged, homes inundated up to their rooftops, and residents wading through chest-high water to rescue loved ones and salvage belongings.
“The damage is immeasurable. We’ve lost many lives, as well as property and agricultural products. Those with warehouses have seen them completely destroyed,” said Kazeem Muhammed, a Mokwa resident and one of many affected by the floods.
Northern Nigeria, often plagued by prolonged droughts exacerbated by climate change, experiences brief but intense rainy seasons that increasingly bring devastating floods.
Ibrahim Audu Husseini, spokesperson for the State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed that, in addition to the more than 150 confirmed fatalities, more bodies continue to be recovered and are yet to be officially counted.
Community leader Aliki Musa expressed shock at the force of the flooding: “In the past, the floods came seasonally. Now it feels like spiritual water—something we may not see again for another 20 years.”
Jibril Muregi, chairman of the Mokwa local government area, emphasized the urgent need for infrastructure to manage floodwaters. “These projects are essential to reduce future risks and safeguard lives and property,” he stated.
This year’s floods add to growing concerns over the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather. Last September, heavy rains and the collapse of a dam in Maiduguri, in the northeast, killed at least 30 people and displaced millions, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis fueled by the Boko Haram insurgency.
