By Godwin Favour
When the waters came in the dead of night, Adamu Yusuf clutched his newborn daughter and ran barefoot into the rising current. By morning, nine members of his family—including his wife and that same child—were gone, swept away by the worst flood to hit Mokwa in decades. Now, standing amid the rubble of his home in Tiffin Nada, Yusuf’s grief is matched only by his plea: “We were not warned.”
His story is one of hundreds that reveal the human toll behind the disaster that struck Niger State in late May 2025. The floods have left entire communities in mourning and thousands without shelter, livelihoods, or hope.
Niger State has faced severe seasonal flooding in recent years, particularly during the rainy seasons from June to September. These floods have resulted in deaths and injuries, destroyed thousands of homes, displaced families, wiped out crops and livestock, and damaged critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and schools. In some years, notably 2020, 2021, and 2022, the floods reached emergency levels. In 2022 alone, over 250,000 people were affected, and more than 100 people lost their lives. Major cities were heavily impacted.
“I escaped with only my nightdress. Right now, I can’t even identify where our home used to be.”
This year’s floodwaters surged with alarming speed, submerging homes, roads, and vital infrastructure. Communities such as Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa bore the brunt of the disaster, with entire neighborhoods washed away. The collapse of a nearby local dam worsened the situation, releasing additional water into already saturated areas. As of June 4, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) reported that the death toll had risen to 162, with over 3,000 individuals displaced.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has denied claims that the recent floods in Mokwa were caused by the release or failure of water from nearby dams, specifically the Kainji and Jebba dams. Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, stated that both facilities are intact and pose no risk to surrounding communities.
Several natural and human-made factors contributed to the disaster. Niger now experiences increasingly intense and unpredictable rains due to climate change. Major rivers like the Niger overflow when rains are heavy upstream, flooding surrounding areas. Poor drainage systems in many fast-growing neighborhoods, homes built in flood-prone zones without proper safeguards, deforestation, and soil erosion all exacerbate the problem. Rising global temperatures have led to more intense rainfall and extreme weather events, making floods more frequent and devastating.
“I watched helplessly as water washed away my family
The impact of the flood extended beyond Niger State. Neighboring states like Kwara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, and Kano also suffered extensive damage to farmlands and infrastructure. On April 16, 2025, the release of water from Jebba Dam led to flash floods across Kwara and Niger. At least 13 people died, farms were ruined, and thousands were displaced. On July 3, 2025, the House of Representatives raised alarms, calling for urgent relief for Kwara and Niger, citing severe damage and the risk of disease outbreaks. Though less individually reported, farmers in Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, and Kano were also affected between April and May, as Jebba Dam releases and floods ravaged farmlands and communities.
The disaster disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of farmers, many of whom were forced to abandon their homes and now live in camps or temporary shelters. Schools have been converted into shelters, delaying classes. The loss of crops and livestock has led to food shortages and rising prices. Businesses have also suffered, as markets and roads were damaged. Fear lingers, and life has not returned to normal, especially for those in the dry-season rice farming sector. In Niger alone, economic losses are estimated in the billions of naira.
In response, both state and federal governments have mobilized resources to support affected communities. Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago announced a donation of N1 billion to assist victims, while Vice President Kashim Shettima revealed that the federal government had approved N2 billion for rebuilding destroyed homes. President Bola Tinubu also dispatched a high-level delegation to the state to assess the situation and coordinate relief efforts.
Emergency responses were coordinated by the Nigerian Government through the Directorate of Civil Protection, with local authorities involved in rescue, evacuation, and the provision of temporary shelters. Residents helped each other evacuate and construct makeshift shelters. Community leaders worked alongside officials to assess needs and distribute aid. International agencies such as UNICEF, OCHA, and the World Food Programme provided food, shelter, and medical support, while NGOs including the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and CARE played key roles in the relief effort.
Nineteen-year-old secondary school graduate Isa Muhammed has been inconsolable since hearing that his beloved teacher’s house was washed away—with the teacher and eight family members inside. “Two bodies have been found; one was his baby,” he said tearfully. “My teacher, his second child, his sister, and four other relatives are still missing. A building collapsed on his wife, who wasn’t in the house at the time, and she died instantly.”
Another survivor recalled: “I escaped with only my nightdress. Right now, I can’t even identify where our home used to be.” Mohammed Tanko, a local, told Al Jazeera: “We lost everything. We don’t have anywhere else to go. Property is gone. We lost at least 15 from this house.”
Adamu Yusuf’s life has been shattered since losing nine family members in Tiffin Maza, one of the two worst-hit communities in his town. “I watched helplessly as water washed away my family. I survived because I could swim. It was God that saved me,” he said. The mood in Tiffin Maza remains one of grief, despair, and overwhelming loss.
According to NSEMA and Acting DG Dr. Hussain Ibrahim, 206 people were confirmed dead, 82 injured, and 1,000 still missing after the May 28–29, 2025 flood. Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs Ahmad Suleiman told Channels TV that “more than 200 corpses” had been recovered, with recovery efforts ongoing. The International Federation of Red Cross reported 121 injured individuals receiving treatment in local health facilities. NSEMA noted 3,534 displaced residents, while Al Jazeera and the BBC estimated between 3,000 and 3,500 displaced or homeless.
Reports indicate over 500 households affected across multiple communities. Among the displaced are 1,600 children under 12 and 380 lactating mothers. At least 458 houses were destroyed, and another 265 severely damaged. UNICEF confirmed that 265 homes were obliterated. Educational infrastructure has also been impacted, with 29 classrooms—including Islamic schools—destroyed or rendered inaccessible.
Critical infrastructure suffered heavy damage: five bridges collapsed (four now repaired), and two major roads were washed away. Vice President Shettima confirmed federal efforts to repair two federal bridges, while the state government is handling the rest. Economic losses run into millions of naira, with extensive destruction of homes, crops, and local infrastructure.
Over 10,000 hectares of farmland were submerged, destroying staple crops like rice and posing a threat to regional food security. Livestock losses have also been significant, with more than 10,930 animals dead.
The flood crisis in Nigeria is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by communities in the face of climate-related disasters. Immediate government and aid agency interventions are critical: rescue operations, clean water, food, medical supplies, and temporary shelter are urgently needed to prevent further suffering and disease outbreaks.
In the medium term, community education on flood safety, improved drainage systems, and early warning systems—such as text messages and radio alerts—are essential. Long-term solutions must include regular dredging of the River Niger, the construction of dams and reinforced riverbanks, and the relocation of residents from high-risk zones. Urban planning must prevent unregulated building in flood-prone areas, and enforce stricter building codes.
International collaboration with other nations sharing the River Niger, alongside support from global organizations, can bolster national efforts. Environmental strategies like reforestation, wetland protection, and advanced technologies such as drones and floating structures could help reduce future flood damage and aid community recovery.
The 2025 Mokwa flood serves as a painful but urgent wake-up call. Nigeria must act decisively—not only to ease today’s suffering but to protect vulnerable communities from the disasters of tomorrow.
