02 June 2025,
Dele Olasupo
Wednesday 28th May 2025 was a day that would never be forgotten in a hurry by the people of Mokwa community in Niger state as no fewer than 100 children who were students in a quranic school were among the people that were swept away by the flood as a result of a heavy downpour that lasted for several hours.
A 65 year old Mrs. Ramat Sulaiman who was among the victims narrated that she became homelessness by the flood that ravaged her house.
According to her, “I was lucky to have survived the tragic incident with my family. I heard the cry of over 100 children residing in a quranic school close to my house as the raging flood swept away the house where they slept and the noise kept fading away till we didn’t hear their cry again. The flood was so heavy to the extent that no one could have done anything to rescue the situation.
Over 200 deaths have been recorded, while rescue efforts are ongoing and emergency services have continued to evacuate their bodies.”
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mrs. Zubaida Umar, led a rescue team to the scene, she said investigations are ongoing and relief items are being provided for the displaced individuals, adding that there was a provision for mobile clinic and mobile water purifiers.
She, however, pleaded with the people in the community to cooperate and support her agency in the search and rescue activities.
A delegation by the Federal Government led by the Minister for Information and National Orientation in Minna, Alhaji Mohammed Idris visited Niger state to commiserate with the governor and the people of the state.
At the moment, about 3,018 individuals have been displaced, while over 500 houses were affected.
