The Niger State government has reported that more than 700 individuals remain unaccounted for following the recent flooding in the Mokwa community, located within the Mokwa Local Government Area.
Governor Umaru Bago shared this information during a condolence visit from Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former chief security officer to Gen. Sani Abacha, and his associates in Minna on Tuesday.
Represented by Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba, Mr Bago confirmed that 207 fatalities have been recorded, and over 3,000 households have been displaced due to the disaster. “More than 700 individuals are still missing, and we have yet to establish their whereabouts. The flooding has inflicted significant damage,” he stated.
The governor highlighted the widespread destruction caused by the floods, noting that 400 houses have suffered damage, with 283 homes and 50 shops completely destroyed.
Mr Bago expressed gratitude to both individuals and corporate entities for their generous donations, emphasising that the flooding incident qualifies as a national disaster. He also mentioned that the state government is collaborating with professional organisations to investigate the root causes of the flooding and is currently awaiting the results of their assessments.
During the visit, Mr Al-Mustapha conveyed his condolences to the Niger government and the residents of Mokwa in light of the catastrophic flooding. “We will engage with the traditional council, particularly the chairman in Mokwa, and pray that such an incident is never repeated,” he remarked.
He further noted that the delegation, consisting of prominent figures from various regions of the country, aims to extend sympathy and support to both the state government and the impacted communities. Mr Al-Mustapha added that discussions with the traditional council would focus on devising strategies to prevent similar flooding events in the future and to enhance town planning and living standards.
Earlier, he and his delegation visited former military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd).
