Officials revealed on Saturday that the torrents of water that swept through the market town of Mokwa in Nigeria’s north-central state of Niger have resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 151 people.
Beginning early on Thursday, heavy rain submerged Mokwa, a crucial trading and transportation center west of Abuja, causing significant damage to roads, bridges, and buildings.
The death toll skyrocketed from 21 to over 100 on Friday, and as search efforts continued on Saturday, it climbed to 151, with more than 3,000 people displaced and many still unaccounted for.
The flooding also left 11 people injured, adding to the misery of the affected residents.
Mohamed Adow from Power Shift Africa described the situation as a “cruel irony” where parts of Africa face extreme droughts only to be hit by devastating floods, emphasizing the urgent need for polluting countries to cut fossil fuel emissions and provide climate funding to those most in need.
Picking through the wreckage, residents like Kazeem Muhammed expressed heartbreak over the loss of lives and livelihoods, with many facing damaged or destroyed property and crops.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has activated the national emergency response center to aid the state quickly, ensuring search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, and relief materials are being deployed without delay.
The recent cuts to the UK aid budget have raised concerns about its impact on countries like Nigeria, which are disproportionately affected by climate change and urgently need assistance.
Flooding is a recurring issue during Nigeria’s rainy season, with poor infrastructure exacerbating the damage, and climate change adding an extra layer of danger as hotter air can lead to more intense rainfall.
Community leader Aliki Musa highlighted that the people of Mokwa are not accustomed to such extreme flooding, emphasizing the need for improved water management and infrastructure to mitigate future disasters.
The devastating flooding that occurred in Nigeria in 2022 was found to be significantly influenced by climate change, making it crucial for countries to address the root causes and provide support to vulnerable communities.
