Death toll from Niger flood rises to 115

Flash floods triggered by torrential rains have devastated parts of Niger State in central Nigeria, killing at least 115 people, with many more feared dead, officials said on Friday.

Ibrahim Audu Husseini, spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), confirmed the death toll and warned it is expected to increase. “We have so far recovered 115 bodies, and more are likely to be found as the floodwaters carried people into the River Niger. Bodies are still being recovered downstream,” he told AFP.

The disaster struck late Wednesday after intense rains caused flash floods that swept through the city of Mokwa, destroying more than 50 homes and leaving many residents missing. Search and rescue efforts continued into Friday, with multiple teams operating in different locations.

Many feared dead as flood devastates Niger community

“We expect the toll to rise considerably,” Husseini said, citing the widespread nature of the disaster and the number of ongoing recovery operations.

Nigeria’s rainy season, which typically lasts six months, has only just begun. Experts warn that climate change is intensifying extreme weather events in the region.

Flooding is a recurring crisis in Nigeria, often worsened by inadequate drainage systems, construction on waterways, and the dumping of waste in drainage channels. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had issued warnings earlier in the week, alerting 15 of the country’s 36 states — including Niger — about the risk of flash floods between Wednesday and Friday.

In 2024, Nigeria experienced one of its worst flooding disasters in decades, with more than 1,200 lives lost and over 1.2 million people displaced across at least 31 states, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Authorities continue to urge residents in flood-prone areas to heed warnings and take necessary precautions as the rainy season intensifies.