Flooding in Mokwa, Nigeria claims 200 lives as rescue efforts end
At least 200 people have died in floods that struck Mokwa, Niger State, Nigeria, on May 29–30, 2025. Rescue operations have been halted as no further survivors are expected. The flooding displaced over 3 000 residents and caused significant damage to infrastructure.
Image credit: NEMA Nigeria
As of June 2, the death toll from flooding in Mokwa, Niger State, reached at least 200, according to Musa Kimboku, deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government. The floods, caused by torrential rainfall on May 29–30, rose rapidly within five hours, submerging homes and leaving residents waist-deep in water.
Rescue operations were suspended on Sunday, June 1, after authorities determined that no further survivors were likely to be found.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) reported that bodies were recovered as far as 10 km (6.2 miles) away, swept into the Niger River. Authorities have shifted focus to exhuming bodies buried under debris to prevent disease outbreaks.
Over 3 018 people remain displaced, with 265 homes destroyed and 503 households affected across three communities.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed food, household utensils, tents, and mobile water treatment equipment to provide clean drinking water. Injured individuals were treated at health centers in Mokwa and discharged, while some received immediate first aid at the site.
President Bola Tinubu directed federal agencies to support state efforts to ensure that relief supplies reach the affected communities.
Mokwa, a key trading hub 380 km (236 miles) west of Abuja, sustained severe infrastructure damage, including the destruction of two major roads and two bridges.
The loss of a bridge connecting northern and southwestern Nigeria stranded motorists and disrupted trade routes for agricultural goods such as beans and onions. Flooding blocked culverts behind an abandoned railway track, causing water to accumulate before breaching mud mounds.
Local resident Mohammed Tanko reported 15 deaths from a single household, while another survivor was unable to locate their home.
The district head of Mokwa, Muhammad Shaba Aliyu, called for government assistance to rebuild and strengthen flood defenses. NEMA plans to carry out a comprehensive post-disaster assessment to guide recovery efforts.
Reet is a science journalist and researcher with a keen focus on extreme weather, space phenomena, and climate-related issues. With a strong foundation in astronomy and a history of environmental activism, she approaches every story with a sharp scientific lens and a deep sense of purpose. Driven by a lifelong love for writing, and a curiosity about the universe, Reet brings urgency and insight to some of the most important scientific developments of our time.
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