At least 117 people have died after severe flooding hit central Nigeria following heavy rains earlier this week.
Floodwaters destroyed over 50 homes in the market town of Mokwa, Niger State, a key trading hub about 220 kilometers west of the capital Abuja.
Ibrahim Audu Husseini, spokesperson for the Niger State emergency agency, confirmed the rising death toll and said more bodies are still being recovered as rescue operations continue.
The flooding worsened after a nearby dam collapsed, adding to the damage. Nigeria’s Meteorological Agency warned of flash floods in 15 states, including Niger, as the rainy season, which lasts about six months, has just begun.
Flooding is a recurring and deadly problem in Nigeria, worsened by poor drainage, homes built on waterways, and blocked drains caused by waste dumping.
Nigeria faced one of its worst flood disasters in 2024, with over 1,200 deaths, 1.2 million people displaced, and more than 1.4 million hectares of farmland destroyed across 31 states.
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