By Abbas Nazil
More than 200 people are feared dead following devastating floods in north-central Nigeria, with another 500 still missing, as residents of the worst-hit communities in Niger State recount harrowing experiences of loss, destruction, and trauma.
The disaster, which struck the town of Mokwa early Thursday morning, particularly overwhelmed Tiffin Maza and one other community, displacing hundreds and leaving behind a trail of rubble, soaked belongings, and broken lives.
One of the most heart-wrenching stories came from 36-year-old Adamu Yusuf, who lost nine members of his family, including his wife and newborn baby.
He described waking up to his wife’s screams as floodwaters entered their home. In a desperate bid to escape, he gathered his family and urged them to stay close.
However, in the chaos, they became separated, and Yusuf watched helplessly as the raging waters swept his loved ones away.
“I survived because I could swim,” he said, overwhelmed with grief. “It was God that saved me.” His wife and child had only just returned to Mokwa from her parents’ home a day before the disaster struck.
The scale of destruction in Tiffin Maza was evident on Saturday, as residents gathered amidst the ruins of their homes. Crushed metal roofs, scattered clothes, and sodden mattresses were all that remained of once-thriving households.
Many buildings were partially or completely destroyed, with only fragments—like the tiled floor where Mr. Adamu’s bedroom once stood—marking their former existence.
“I lost everything to this flood,” he lamented. “The only valuable I have now is this cloth I am wearing, which a friend gave me.”
The emotional toll of the disaster extended to young people like 19-year-old Isa Muhammed, who mourned the loss of his teacher and several members of the teacher’s family. The house was washed away while they were inside.
“Two have been found dead—one of them was his baby,” Muhammed said. The teacher’s wife, who was not inside the house, died when another building collapsed on her.
Muhammed also lost his uncle, who had become a father figure after his own father’s death in 2023. “He always encouraged me to value education and do the right thing.
I haven’t been able to sleep since the incident,” he said tearfully.
For 65-year-old Ramat Sulaiman, the loss was also overwhelming. Her home was completely destroyed, and her family rendered homeless.
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But what haunts her most is the memory of the 100 children who perished when floodwaters consumed a Quranic school near her house.
“They cried for help, but no one could do anything,” she recalled. “Their building just sunk and flowed away.”
Her son, Saliu, also suffered heavy financial losses, including $1,500 in cash—the proceeds from selling farm produce the day before.
“I contemplated going back into the room to get it, but the water pressure scared me,” he said.
He also lost multiple bags of groundnuts and beans. Though grateful to have escaped with his wife, he now faces homelessness and economic hardship. “I am traumatised,” he admitted.
While the water has since receded, the community continues to search for bodies and salvage belongings.
A foul smell lingers in the air, which residents believe signals decomposing corpses buried in the mud.
Many are determined to provide proper burials for the dead, even as hopes of finding more survivors fade.
Local authorities and emergency agencies are providing aid, with injured victims receiving treatment and displaced persons relocated to temporary shelters. However, questions remain about the cause of the disaster.
While there were reports suggesting that heavy rains triggered the flooding, many residents and local officials dispute this.
Witnesses described the sudden appearance of powerful floodwaters, with no prior rainfall. Some believe a nearby reservoir may have overflowed or been breached, though this remains unconfirmed.
Deputy Local Chairman Musa Alhaji Aliyu Kimboku denied that rain caused the disaster, echoing the sentiments of District Head Muhammadu Shaba Aliyu, who acknowledged the presence of a spill-prone reservoir in the area.
Survivors like Adamu Yusuf insist the flood was not rainfall-induced. “The rain had stopped. Suddenly, I saw water gushing down at high speed,” he said. “This is just from God.”
As the Federal Government intensifies flood risk awareness campaigns and the Meteorological Agency forecasts an extended rainy season—lasting up to 200 days in central Nigeria—the tragedy in Mokwa stands as a grim reminder of the country’s vulnerability to environmental disasters.
With 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states at risk, the need for improved infrastructure, disaster preparedness, and early warning systems has never been more urgent.
For survivors like Mr. Adamu, however, the focus remains on grieving their loved ones and piecing together what little remains. “I have accepted my fate,” he said, “but the pain will never go away.”
