* more bodies recovered from Mokwa flood disaster as death toll rises to 160
By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah has explained that over 100,000 people and 385 communities are at high risk of flooding this year in Niger state.
The Director General stated this Tuesday while giving the sectorial effect of flooding this year in Niger state at the Agency 2025 Flood Preparedness and Response Campaign Stakeholders Engagement in Minna.
He said, “this year in Niger state, 215 schools, 7 commercial centres, 180,000 hectares of land, 6 roads and 3 bridges and over 100,000 population are going to be affected by flooding this year.
While stressing the importance of early preparations to avoid the disaster, the Director General assured of NSEMA coordinated action plan to mitigate the effects of flood disaster on the victims.
Represented by the Director, Relief and Rehabilitation, Garba Salisu, the Director General explained that 8 local governments consisting of 90 communities are clacified under high risk between April to June this year in the state, adding that, “between July and September 2025 about 105 communities from 17 local councils will experience very serious flood while in October and November, 3 local governments consisting of 15 communities are likely to have a high risk flooding in the state”.
He added that 13 councils with 87 communities in April/June, 17 local governments with 87 communities in July/Septembert are prone to moderate flooding in this year while between October and November 11 local councils and 103 communities will be affected.
Meanwhile NSEMA has given official update on the Mokwa flood disaster confirming the recovery of 160 bodies as at Tuesday 03/06/2025.
According to Director General of the Agency , Abdullahi Arah , 7 more dead bodies were recovered between yesterday and today. “Four were recovered yesterday evening while one was recovered this morning. 2 more dead bodies were recovered this afternoon down mokwa/Raba axis. They are of 2 children buried under tree debris. We have to employ services of locals to dug out corpses.The total is now 160 as of 3:45, 3rd June 2025”.