At least 21 people lost their lives on Thursday following heavy rainfall that caused severe flooding in two communities in north-central Nigeria’s Niger State. More than 10 individuals remain missing as search and rescue efforts continue.
The head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Hussaini, reported that about 50 homes were submerged when floodwaters overwhelmed the area. Entire families were affected as rising waters swept through residential zones, leaving destruction in their wake.
“Twenty-one bodies have so far been recovered in the incident, while over 10 persons are still missing as the search and rescue operation continues,” Hussaini said.
Emergency response teams have been deployed to the affected areas to locate the missing and provide support to survivors. Authorities are working to assess the scale of damage and deliver aid to those displaced by the floods.
Flooding remains a recurring threat in Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season that begins in April. The combination of prolonged rainfall, inadequate drainage infrastructure, and population growth in vulnerable areas has contributed to repeated disasters in various parts of the country.
Local officials are urging residents in flood-prone zones to take necessary precautions as weather forecasts indicate continued rainfall in the coming weeks.