The aftermath of the devastating flood that hit Mokwa town in Niger State continues to unfold, with the state government confirming on Tuesday, June 17, that more than 700 people are still missing and 207 lives have been lost.
Governor Umaru Bago, represented by his deputy, Yakubu Garba, shared the tragic figures while receiving Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha and his delegation, who visited to offer their condolences in Minna.
“Over 700 persons are still missing and we are yet to ascertain where they are. The flooding has caused extensive damage,” Bago said.
The flood, which struck on May 29, tore through Mokwa Local Government Area, displacing over 3,000 households. At least 400 houses were damaged, while 283 homes and 50 shops were completely destroyed.
Calling the event a national disaster, the governor expressed gratitude to individuals and organisations that had provided support so far.
He revealed that experts were already working to determine the root cause of the flooding, and the government is waiting for their assessment.
Al-Mustapha, who once served as Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha, described the losses as heartbreaking. He said the visit was meant to show solidarity and support to the government and people of Niger.
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“We are here to register our condolences over the flood incident that happened in Mokwa, looking at the heavy losses and its impact on the state,” he said.
“We will meet with the traditional council, especially the chairman in Mokwa, and pray that the incident doesn’t happen again.”
His delegation, made up of prominent Nigerians from various regions, plans to explore long-term solutions with local leaders to prevent such disasters in the future, especially through better town planning and living conditions.
In a related development, Governor Bago disclosed on Tuesday that more than half of the flood victims were non-indigenes of Niger State. He made the disclosure while receiving humanitarian support from Veritas University, a Catholic institution based in Abuja.
As part of recovery efforts, Bago said the government had begun collecting details of all affected victims, including their bank account information, to ensure donations reach them directly.
While the total amount received from donors has yet to be disclosed, each affected family is expected to receive at least ₦1 million.
He also promised support for families currently sheltering displaced victims.