Nigeria: Over 700 Missing in Mokwa Floods as Death Toll Hits 207 — Tinubu Yet to Visit Disaster Zone

More than 207 people have been confirmed dead, and over 700 remain missing following the devastating floods that swept through Mokwa Local Government Area in Niger State late last month. Thousands of residents have been displaced, with homes, shops, and key infrastructure destroyed.

The disaster, which struck between May 28 and 29, has been described as one of the deadliest in the state’s history. The Niger State Emergency Management Agency reports that more than 3,000 households have been affected, with 283 homes completely demolished and over 400 others severely damaged. Roads and bridges connecting communities were washed away, cutting off access to relief efforts and slowing rescue operations.

Despite the scale of the disaster, President Bola Tinubu has neither made an official public statement nor visited the affected communities. This silence has sparked widespread criticism from civil society, opposition leaders, and residents, who are demanding federal attention and compassion.

The disaster has also triggered food security concerns, as over 10,000 hectares of farmland have been destroyed, wiping out crops and livestock vital to the local economy. The Niger River’s overflow, combined with intense rainfall and a possible dam failure, is believed to have contributed to the severity of the floods.

Search and recovery operations are ongoing by local emergency agencies, volunteers, and security forces. With hundreds still missing and fears of disease outbreaks growing, humanitarian organisations have called for urgent intervention from the federal government.

Governor Umar Bago expressed his sorrow over the tragedy and urged the federal authorities to provide immediate support for rescue and rebuilding efforts. Meanwhile, a delegation led by former military officer Major Hamza Al-Mustapha visited the area to deliver emergency relief supplies on behalf of the state.

With the death toll from this and other recent tragedies, including the massacre of over 200 people in Benue, now exceeding 900 nationwide, questions are mounting over the federal government’s capacity and willingness to respond to large-scale humanitarian crises.

As grief-stricken families search for missing loved ones and struggle to rebuild, many ask why the Presidency remains quiet in the face of such monumental loss. The residents of Niger State await not just aid but acknowledgement and leadership.

Read More:

• Nigerian Security Operatives Teargas Benue Protesters Despite President Tinubu’s Presence in Makurdi for “Condolence Visit”
• Nigerian Troops Repel Boko Haram Attack on Naval Base in Lake Chad

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