2025 Mokwa flood
| Date | May 28–29, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | Mokwa, Niger State, Nigeria |
| Cause | Heavy rainfall and collapse of a nearby dam |
| Deaths | > 200 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 121 |
| Missing | 1,000 |
| Property damage | Millions of naira; town submerged, more than 3,000 houses affected, two bridges collapsed and two roads swept away, critical infrastructure damaged, farm produce destroyed and croplands damaged |
On May 28, 2025, flooding caused by heavy rainfall submerged the market town of Mokwa in Niger State, Nigeria, causing severe damage. Officials said that the floods killed more than 200 people and confirmed that 1,000 were missing. At least 121 others were injured, and the flooding destroyed 2,000 homes.
Background
[edit]Mokwa
[edit]Mokwa is a market town in Niger State with an estimated population of 416,600 as of 2022.[1] The long southern border of the Local Government Area (LGA) is formed by the Niger River from Lake Jebba in the west beyond the confluence of the Kaduna River in the east. Kwara State and Kogi State are across the Niger from the LGA. The A1 highway crosses the Niger at Gana to Jebba in Kwara State. Mokwa is a major meeting point where traders from the south buy food from growers in the north.[2]
Flooding in Nigeria
[edit]Flooding in Nigeria has become a yearly occurrence that claims lives and destroys many properties.[3] In 2024, flooding in Nigeria killed more than 1,200 people, injured at least 2,712 others, and displaced 1.2 million.[4][5][6]
A previous flood in Mokwa on April 16, 2025, caused by the release of water from the Jebba Hydroelectric Power Station dam, killed 13 people, including three people on a canoe that capsized on a flooded river, and destroyed paddy fields. The floods affected over 5,000 dry-season farmers across Niger State and Kwara State, impacting over 10,000 ha (25,000 acres) of paddy farms in Mokwa alone with estimated economic losses in the billions of naira. Farmers from Kebbi State, Sokoto State, Katsina State and Kano State were also impacted. Reports indicate that the disaster displaced over 6,400 people, destroyed 45 schools, 44 health centers, and led to the collapse of the Eppa bridge, cutting off communities from urgent help. The flood was the sixth caused by the water released from the dam.[7] Dam management continues to be a recurring factor in flood-related risks.[8]
Flood
[edit]
The flood started on May 28, 2025, after several hours of torrential rainfall in the town and surrounding areas. The flood submerged the town and washed away homes with residents inside and vehicles, including a tank truck.[9][10] The Mokwa bridge collapsed on May 28, leaving motorists stranded and disrupting vehicular movements and economic activities across the region.[11] Another bridge and two roads were also washed away.[12] People were washed downstream into the Niger River.[13] Excavator teams were needed to remove bodies that were stuck under debris.[14] According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency and later confirmed by Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba,[15] the Tiffin Maza and Auguwan Hausawa districts of Mokwa were worst affected.[16] Authorities said the search and rescue operation is still ongoing as of May 30 and many people are still at risk.[17] Local government officials said a dam collapse in a nearby town[clarification needed] worsened the situation.[2]
Aftermath
[edit]Officials said the death toll was more than 200 and there are 500 missing people as of 1 June 2025.[update] The deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government, Musa Kimboku, said that rescue efforts have ceased because authorities no longer believe anyone could still be alive.[18] A National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) described the flood as one of the worst in the state's history.[19] The Acting Director General of NEMA, Ibrahim Hussaini confirmed on June 1, 2025, that over 153 bodies were discovered under the Mokwa bridge due to the flood waves and they have been buried.[20]
Red Cross chief Gideon Adamu reported 121 people were hospitalized with injuries.[21] Emergency service officials said at least 3,018 residents were displaced while local media reported at least 5,000.[22][8] Critical infrastructure and more than 10,000 ha (25,000 acres) of paddy fields and croplands have been destroyed as well, affecting regional food supply chains.[8][23] The flooding destroyed property worth millions of naira.[11] A thousand people were reported missing,[24] including a family of 12 where only four members were accounted for and all 100 children from a madrasa.[25][14][9] More than 3,000 houses were affected,[26] including 2,000 destroyed.[24] NEMA provided food and non-food relief items including rice, blankets, and mats.[11]
Reactions
[edit]Senator Sani Musa extended heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Niger State following the floods and its surrounding communities and donated 50 million naira and several truckloads of food items, including rice, millet and maize to displaced families and vulnerable individuals across the affected areas.[27] President Bola Tinubu activated the National Emergency Response Centre and deployed federal agencies. Relief materials and temporary shelters were provided.[8] The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency did not immediately say how much rain fell after midnight Thursday.[28] Mohamed Adow, director of Kenya-based thinktank Power Shift Africa, called it a "cruel irony" that parts of Africa can be "baked dry and then suffer from floods that destroy lives and livelihoods" and said "The terrible floods in Nigeria are another reminder that Africa stands on the front line of the climate crisis."[29]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Mokwa (Local Government Area, Nigeria) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". citypopulation.de. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ a b "Nigeria flood disaster: 111 confirmed dead in Mokwa, death toll may rise". Mathrubhumi. May 30, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Gabriel, Ewepu (July 14, 2024). "Deadly Downpour: More floods coming, nowhere to run". Vanguard. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Berry, Alex (May 30, 2025). "Nigeria: Death toll from major floods passes 100". Deutsche Welle. Associated Press, Agence France-Presse. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ "Severe floods hitting most vulnerable in Sahel and Lake Chad region". Norwegian Refugee Council. September 16, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
- ^ Yusuf, Kabir; Mojeed, Abdulkareem (October 8, 2024). "Deluge of Death: Flood leaves Nigerian community in ruins". Premium Times. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ Kaur, Reet (April 22, 2025). "Deadly floods hit Nigeria, destroy rice fields across 30 communities in Niger and Kwara states". The Watchers News. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Kaur, Reet (May 31, 2025). "Flash floods kill over 150 in Mokwa, Nigeria". The Watchers News. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
- ^ a b "More than 100 killed in heavy Nigeria flooding, rescue efforts ongoing". Al Jazeera English. May 30, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ "Nigeria floods: At least 117 dead as heavy flooding submerges thousands of houses". Sky News. May 31, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Motorists stranded as Mokwa bridge linking north, southwest collapses". Vanguard. May 30, 2025. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
- ^ Adebayo, Taiwo; Asadu, Chinedu (May 31, 2025). "Death toll reaches 151 in north-central Nigerian town submerged in floods, thousands displaced". Associated Press. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
- ^ "Search for survivors as floods in Nigeria kill at least 115". TRT Global. May 30, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b "Death toll in central Nigeria flooding rises to 115". Agence France-Presse. May 30, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025 – via Yahoo News.
- ^ "Niger Flood: Deputy Gov. Visits Victims As Death Toll Rises To 100". The Next Edition. May 31, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ "Niger Flood: Deputy Gov. Visits Victims As Death Toll Rises To 100". The Next Edition. May 31, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ Olaoluwa, Azeezat (May 30, 2025). "Floods kill at least 110 people after heavy rain in Nigeria". BBC News. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Olaoluwa, Azeezat; Macaulay, Cecilia (June 1, 2025). "Death toll in Nigeria floods hits more than 200, officials say". BBC News. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ^ At Least 175 Dead In Nigeria After Devastating Flash Floods Unleashed By Torrential Rains | Mokwa (Video). Oneindia. May 31, 2025. Retrieved May 31, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ Egba, Abdullahi (June 1, 2025). "Mokwa Flood Death Toll Rises To 153 As More Bodies Recovered, NSEMA Confirms". Channels TV. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ "Nigerian floods kill more than 150, as search for victims continues". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. May 31, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ^ "'We lost everything': 151 dead in Nigeria floods, thousands displaced". Al Jazeera. May 31, 2025. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
- ^ "Nigeria - Floods (IFRC, media, NOAA-CPC) (ECHO Daily Flash of 30 May 2025)". Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. May 30, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025 – via ReliefWeb.
- ^ a b "Nigeria confirms 200 deaths, 1,000 missing in Mokwa flash flood". The EastAfrican. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ Olaoluwa, Azeezat (June 1, 2025). "'I watched helplessly as water washed my family away' in Nigeria floods". BBC News. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ^ Egbejule, Eromo (May 30, 2025). "At least 115 die in Nigeria floods as rescue efforts continue". The Guardian. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Abuja, John Akubo (May 31, 2025). "Musa donates ₦50m, food trucks to Mokwa flood victims". The Guardian Nigeria. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ^ De Ruiter, Emma (May 31, 2025). "Over 150 killed as torrential rain unleashes floods in northern Nigeria". Euronews. Associated Press. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ^ Seabrook, Victoria (May 31, 2025). "At least 150 killed after heavy flooding in Nigeria". Sky News. Retrieved June 1, 2025.