In Mokwa, a market town 230 miles west of Abuja, intense early morning storms left homes submerged and residents wading through waist-deep water. Around 500 families were affected, according to Niger state authorities.

President Bola Tinubu activated the national emergency response, promising immediate aid and shelter for victims. He stated that all federal agencies have been mobilized to assist with search-and-rescue operations and relief distribution.

Locals mourned the dead while others searched for missing loved ones. Mokwa, a key trade hub for agricultural goods, also suffered severe economic losses.

This disaster follows the 2024 floods that displaced hundreds of thousands and caused a prison break of 300 inmates in Maiduguri, where floodwaters destroyed a dam and correctional facilities. At least 30 people died and over a million were affected.

Fatima Yakubu, a resident of northeastern Nigeria, described waking up to rising water levels inside her home.