271 houses destroyed as flood ravages communities in two Niger state LGAs

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) says flooding has destroyed 271 houses and 171 hectares of land in Mokwa and Rijau LGAs of the state.

Ibrahim Hussaini, NSEMA spokesperson, said torrential rainfall on Saturday caused the flooding that affected the Kpashafu community in Mokwa LGA.

Hussaini added that flooding also affected the Dukku community in Rijau LGA after excessive rainfall last Friday.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Abiodun Essien, senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on community engagement (north central), called for urgent intervention for the victims of the disaster.

In an X post, Essien urged the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to rise to the situation.

“Urgent attention of @nemanigeria and other relevant government agencies. Muregi community, Mokwa Local Government Niger State, is flooded,” she wrote.

On April 17, the federal government warned that 148 LGAs in 31 states, including Niger, were at risk of severe flooding from April to November.

On August 31, a flood reportedly destroyed a bridge connecting communities in nine LGAs to Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.

Also, on September 10, many residents of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, fled their homes following a devastating flood incident caused by the collapse of the Alau Dam.

The flood in Maiduguri caused the deaths of more than 30 people and displaced over 400,000 residents.