It began with a storm. Then, in the stillness of early morning, the waters came crashing — fierce, unforgiving, and unstoppable.
On May 28, 2025, a torrential downpour and the sudden collapse of a dam near Mokwa in Niger State turned what should have been another farming day into a nightmare. In a matter of hours, homes were swallowed, families were torn apart, and entire communities submerged. Over 200 lives were lost, more than 500 remain missing, and thousands have been displaced.
“I Lost 17 Family Members in One Morning”
For Anas Usman, the pain is still raw. He had just stepped outside with some of his household to prepare for a day on the farm when the flood waters roared through their compound like a beast unchained. “We lost children, women, and men who were our family members,” he told reporters, his voice heavy with grief. “I was helpless. We could not save them.”
Anas is just one of many whose lives were changed forever in an instant.
“We Watched People Get Swept Away… We Couldn’t Save Them”
Adamu Usama, a 42-year-old civil engineer, described the experience as something out of a horror film. “We saw the water carrying people away, but we couldn’t help. We didn’t know how to swim. It was terrifying… like the world was ending.”
Hundreds of such stories continue to surface — of mothers swept away while shielding their children, of children separated from their families, of homes that now exist only in memory.
Beyond Rescue: The Struggle to Survive
With rescue efforts now halted due to dangerous conditions, focus has shifted to recovery. President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep condolences and called for immediate intervention by national emergency agencies. Relief supplies are being distributed, and temporary camps are being set up — but for many, hope remains as elusive as the loved ones they lost.
Health experts warn of possible cholera outbreaks, given the contamination of water sources. With most access roads damaged or washed away, aid distribution remains a daunting challenge.
Why This Can’t Keep Happening
This isn’t Niger State’s first flood tragedy — and sadly, it may not be the last. Climate change, poor urban planning, and weak infrastructure continue to make communities across Nigeria vulnerable to such disasters.
The cries for help from Mokwa and neighboring villages are not just for food, water, or shelter. They are pleas for long-term solutions. Stronger dams. Better drainage systems. Early warning systems. Government accountability.
Final Thoughts: Rebuilding After the Storm
This isn’t just a story of loss — it’s a story of courage. Of children guiding their siblings to safety. Of neighbors risking their lives to help one another. Of resilience amid unspeakable grief.
But resilience must be matched with real action.
“One flood too many,” the people say.
Indeed, it’s time to listen — and act — before the next one comes.
