115 Dead as Floods Ravage Northern Nigeria

Floodwaters inundate homes and streets in northern Nigeria as the region faces deadly floods worsened by climate change and extreme weather.

At least 115 people have died in northern Nigeria after torrential pre-dawn rains triggered devastating flash floods in Mokwa, a key agricultural town in Niger State, officials confirmed on Friday. Authorities warned that the death toll is likely to rise as more bodies are being recovered.

The flooding struck after midnight on Thursday, inundating large parts of Mokwa — a vital trading hub where farmers from the north bring produce like beans and onions to sell to southern traders. The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency has yet to release official rainfall measurements for the area.

Mokwa lies more than 300 kilometres west of Abuja, the capital of Africa’s most populous nation. It is one of many communities in northern Nigeria grappling with the escalating impacts of climate change — marked by prolonged dry spells followed by intense, short bursts of rainfall that often result in catastrophic flooding.

Footage shared on social media showed entire neighbourhoods submerged, with only rooftops visible above murky brown waters. Residents waded through waist-deep water, some attempting to salvage belongings, while others focused on rescuing neighbours trapped in their homes.

“This is a tragedy,” said Ibrahim Audu Husseini, spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Agency. “More bodies have just been brought in and are yet to be counted.”

Jibril Muregi, chairman of the Mokwa Local Government Area, said the flooding underscored the urgent need for long-overdue flood-control infrastructure.
“This critical infrastructure is essential to mitigating future flood risks and protecting lives and property,” he stated.

This is not an isolated incident. In September, torrential rains and the collapse of a dam in the northeastern city of Maiduguri caused severe flooding that claimed at least 30 lives and displaced millions. That disaster added to the region’s existing humanitarian crisis driven by the prolonged Boko Haram insurgency.

Northern Nigeria’s vulnerability to extreme weather events is increasing, with climate change amplifying both droughts and deluges. Experts have warned that without significant investment in climate resilience and infrastructure, such disasters will become more frequent and deadlier.