ABUJA (KAAB TV) – Devastating floods have killed at least 117 people in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State, following days of heavy rainfall that destroyed homes and displaced residents. The disaster has also left several individuals unaccounted for, according to an emergency official.
Ibrahim Hussaini, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed the updated death toll on Friday, a sharp increase from the 21 fatalities reported just a day earlier. He noted that the flooding has particularly affected two communities, where over 50 houses were completely submerged.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, and emergency services are working to locate those still missing. The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined, but authorities warn that further rainfall could worsen the situation.
Hussaini urged residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate to safer ground and called on the federal government and humanitarian agencies for urgent support in providing relief materials and shelter for the displaced.
Flooding is a recurrent issue in Nigeria during the rainy season, often exacerbated by poor drainage systems, inadequate infrastructure, and climate change-related weather extremes.