MOKWA, NIGERIA — At least 117 people have been confirmed dead and dozens more remain missing after torrential rains and a dam collapse triggered catastrophic flooding in Niger State, central Nigeria.

Officials said the disaster struck on 28 May, inundating the town of Mokwa and surrounding villages, displacing thousands and overwhelming local emergency services. Search-and-rescue teams continue to recover bodies from the debris.

More than 3,000 homes were submerged and over 1,500 residents displaced as water from the collapsed dam surged into low-lying areas, particularly affecting districts such as Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa.

Infrastructure Failure Amid Extreme Weather

The floods were intensified by the failure of a dam following relentless rainfall, a combination that emergency officials say is becoming increasingly common across West Africa due to climate variability and poor infrastructure maintenance.

“The scale of devastation is unprecedented in this area,” said Ibrahim Inga, head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA). “We are still searching for survivors and assessing the full extent of the damage.”

Preceding Warnings and a Pattern of Neglect

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had earlier forecast severe weather across central Nigeria, but local reports suggest limited preventive measures were put in place.

In April, controlled water releases from the Jebba Hydroelectric Dam led to widespread flooding in Mokwa and neighbouring areas, damaging thousands of hectares of farmland.

Wider Implications for Nigeria and West Africa

The latest disaster adds to a growing number of flood-related fatalities in Nigeria this year, with over 155 deaths recorded nationwide as of May. Government figures indicate that 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states are classified as high-risk flood zones in 2025.

This trend reflects a wider regional crisis. Across West Africa, increasingly frequent floods are displacing communities, destroying crops, and threatening food security.

Emergency Relief and Calls for Regional Resilience

President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to intensify relief efforts. Temporary shelters, food aid, and medical assistance are being deployed.

Development experts warn that Nigeria and other African nations must invest in resilient infrastructure, enforce environmental regulations, and strengthen early warning systems to mitigate the growing toll of climate-related disasters.

Voices from the Ground

“We have nothing left. The water took it all,” said Abubakar Mohammed, a displaced farmer. “Our leaders need to protect us. This cannot keep happening.”

Local advocacy groups are urging the African Union and ECOWAS to coordinate transnational climate adaptation policies and emergency funding mechanisms for flood-prone communities.