Death toll in Niger flood hits 100

Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, has said about 100 bodies have been recovered from the scene of the flood disaster at Mokwa, Niger State as search and rescue operations continues.

She said in a statement that injured persons evacuated to various health centres in Mokwa had been treated and discharged, while some received immediate first aid at the scene.

She noted that the epicentres of the disaster had been identified as Unguwan Hausawa and Tiffin Maza neighbourhoods, both located within Mokwa township.

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Umar said the agency had delivered essential relief items to provide immediate succour to those displaced by the disaster, nothing that the relief intervention was part of a swift and comprehensive response by NEMA to the unprecedented flood, which also damaged homes and affected livelihoods.

“It is important to put on record and commend the tireless efforts of the rescue teams, including personnel from NEMA, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross Society, local volunteers, and divers, for their dedication in rescuing trapped individuals and recovering the bodies of those who drowned.

“Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Military Disaster Response Units (DRUs) from the nearby Kainji military formation are also on site, supporting life-saving operations and ensuring the safety of survivors, emergency responders, and the general public through effective crowd control and security management,” Umar said.

Umar said emergency relief efforts were also ongoing as the agency had deployed assorted food items, household utensils, and tents for temporary shelter, hence, the agency’s mobile water treatment equipment was also providing clean drinking water to affected communities.

According to her, Deputy Governor of Niger State, Comrade Yakubu Garba, received the delivered relief materials at the disaster site and expressed gratitude to NEMA for its prompt and well-coordinated response.

She said, “Emergency responders continue to monitor for potential secondary hazards. Members of the public are advised to remain vigilant and report any emergencies or unusual developments to NEMA, SEMA, or security operatives in the area. A comprehensive post-disaster assessment will follow to guide recovery and reconstruction efforts.”