FORMER presidential candidate Peter Obi has called on the Federal Government and other tiers of government in Nigeria to step up support for the victims of flooding in Mokwa, Niger State, which has claimed over 100 lives.
Obi made the call on Saturday, May 31, asking for prompt provision of essential relief, such as shelter, food, clean water, and medical care to those affected by the disaster.
“The scale of destruction is unimaginable – entire families have been displaced, livelihoods destroyed, and whole communities thrown into mourning. My heart goes out, with deep compassion, to all the victims, their families, and the entire Mokwa community. At a time like this, we are reminded of the importance of empathy, solidarity, and swift action to support one another through grief and loss.” Obi said.
On Thursday, May 29, The ICIR reported that at least 21 people, including minors and women, were confirmed dead after floods swept through Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa communities in Mokwa town.
The disaster, triggered by a heavy midnight downpour that lasted over five hours, submerged dozens of homes, forcing families to flee for their lives.
However, the number of casualties snowballed thereafter, ballooning beyond 100.
Obi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and the destruction of more than 3,000 homes in the tragedy. He described the disaster as a heartbreaking and deeply troubling development for the nation.
He said the incident was a reminder for Nigeria to urgently re-evaluate and greatly improve its disaster preparedness and response systems.
“We must invest in sustainable and proactive solutions that protect lives and property, particularly in vulnerable riverine communities, as the rainy season continues,” he added.
Obi applauded the efforts of the Niger State Government and emergency workers involved in the rescue and relief operations.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the government and people of Niger State, and to every family that has lost a loved one. May God Almighty console them, forgive the sins of the departed, and grant them eternal rest,” he said.
Meanwhile, a prominent activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, in a social media post on Saturday believed that the Mokwa flooding was more than a mere natural disaster.
“Over the last ten years, the flooding caused sometimes by the Lagdo Dam overflow from Cameroon has ravaged Nigeria with near zero attempts to prevent these catastrophes,” he said.
Sowore accused the Nigerian government of failing to prevent the disasters, noting that the government continued to fail the citizens and sacrifice them to natural and government-made disasters.
“Like several other state governments, the Niger State government receives Ecological Funds from the Federal Government. Still, it typically squanders these funds without investing in disaster prevention, leading to life-changing calamities” he added.
The ICIR reported that the Deputy Governor of the State, Yakubu Garba, confirmed that over 100 lives were lost in the flooding.
Garba said this during an on-the-spot assessment visit to the affected area on Friday, May 30, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Accompanied by officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Garba said the death toll was higher than earlier reported.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues.