The town of Mokwa in north-central Nigeria is suffering the aftermath of serious floods that killed at least 151 people and left more than 3,000 residents displaced; it is one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent times for the region.
The disaster happened after catastrophic heavy rains inundated nearby rivers, impacting areas as far as 20 kilometers away. Mokwa doesn’t often see floods, remained caught off guard as the rising waters from the Kolokolo River rapidly invaded neighborhoods, drowning hundreds of homes.
A Community Inundated
Flooding began in the predawn of Friday, taking many residents by surprise as water levels climbed alarmingly quickly leaving some buildings with rooftops barely visible and others completely submerged with men and women wading waist-deep through streets as they tried to find their loved ones.
Over 500 households in three communities in Mokwa, Niger State, were affected, as the surge of water swept away homes and food stores, taking with it two bridges that are vital for transport and trade in the area.
Rescue efforts commenced immediately by emergency services and local volunteers in conjunction with security agencies who began sorting through mangled debris and the remains of collapsed buildings. Many bodies were recovered from the rubble of collapsed houses, and several were recovered a mile or so downstream having been swept away by the strong current of the Niger River.
As of Saturday, officials cautioned that the death toll may continue to rise, and dozens of people remain unaccounted for, including entire families.
Human Stories in the Wake of Disaster
For many in Mokwa, the tragedy is personal. As 29-year-old government worker Mohammed Tanko said: “We lost at least 15 from this house. The property has gone. We have lost everything, once.” Residents mourned the loss of loved ones but also their livelihoods – all farms and farm produce, market stalls, and storage spaces are lost.
Kazeem Muhammed, a resident, lamented, “We lost a lot of lives, and the properties, our farm produce; those that have storage have lost it. Mokwa, an important marketplace for traders from the south to purchase beans, onions and other staples from farmers in the north, is now in limbo, instead of food supplies and infrastructure lying in utter destruction.
Government Response and Continued Relief
President Bola Tinubu has extended condolences to all impacted and pledged “no victim will be left behind.” The federal government stood up the National Emergency Response Centre with mobilization of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the military, and police to centralize and coordinate search-and-rescue response, as well as the issuance of relief supplies and temporary housing to affected communities.
“This is COVID-19 level action,” said Tinubu, as he emphasized “ we will ensure that no Nigerian impacted by this disaster is left behind untouched or unheard of.” The goal here was to show a unified response on behalf of the Nigerian government to ensure rapid, coordinated, and compassionate response.
Climate and Resilience
The disaster demonstrates the increasing vulnerability of Nigerian communities to an increasing number of extreme weather events as a result of climate change. Climate change is also exacerbating both extreme droughts and extreme flooding events. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had previously issued a warning for possible flash floods in Niger state, but nonetheless, the level of devastation has caused many to ask how communities can prepare for these shocks in the future.
A Call for Unity and Support
With Mokwa burying their dead and commencing the long journey of recovery, the call is for the nation to stand in solidarity. The perseverance of the families affected and the unwavering work of the first responders provide us with hope during unimaginable heartbreak. In the words of our president – Tinubu, “In adversity, we draw from our unity, our resilience, and our shared humanity.”
The flooding in Mokwa has, for sure, left deep scars, but it has also exposed the true strength and benevolence of the Nigerian people. While the aid and relief efforts will remain ongoing for a long time, the immediate urgency is saving lives, restoring one’s dignity, and rebuilding a community irrevocably changed by nature’s power.
