Catastrophic flooding in northern Nigeria: At least 111 fatalities reported; region grapples with climate change, prolonged dry periods, and intense rainfall events.
A torrential downpour in the dead of night inundated Mokwa, a bustling market town where northern Nigerian farmers trade goods with traders from the south. Officials announced the grim count of at least 111 fatalities on Friday, and they cautioned that the death toll could rise[2].
According to unconfirmed reports, thrashing rains battered Mokwa in the Niger State over 180 miles west of Abuja, the capital of Africa's most populous country[3]. The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (the Agency) remained tight-lipped about the precise rainfall amounts[2][3].
Climate change and frequent torrential rainfall have taken a toll on northern Nigeria, leading to devastating flooding during the brief monsoon season[2]. In swirling deluge videos and photos on social media, neighborhoods and homes drowned, their roofs barely breaching the murky waters[1]. Struggling up to their waists in water, locals scrambled to safeguard their belongings or rescue others[1].
"Unfortunately, we lost countless lives, and our possessions, including farm produce. Those fortunate enough to have storage also lost it," lamented Kazeem Muhammed, a Mokwa resident[1].
Besides the confirmed 111 deaths, authorities have just received and are in the process of counting more bodies[2].
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Mokwa, situated approximately 380 kilometers (236 miles) away from Abuja, is a significant trading hub where southbound merchants stock up on beans, onions, and other produce from northern farmers[1].
Mokwa elder, Aliki Musa, informed Associated Press (AP) that villagers rarely encounter such flooding and described it as a spiritual phenomenon that occurs every few decades[1].
"Usually, the water looks like mystical water that comes once in a while," Musa explained[1].
According to the Mokwa local government area chairman, Jibril Muregi, building flood-control infrastructure has been long overdue[1].
"This critical flood mitigation infrastructure is crucial for safeguarding lives and property in the future," Muregi emphasized[1].
In September, catastrophic flooding in the northeastern city of Maiduguri claimed at least 30 lives and forced millions from their homes, further exacerbating the already daunting humanitarian crisis caused by the Boko Haram insurgency[2].
- The weather-forecasting officials might have been able to predict the heavy rainfall that hit Mokwa, thus minimizing the loss of life and property.
- The tragic accident in Mokwa underscores the pressing need for environmental-science research to address climate-change issues and prevent similar disasters in the future.
- The general-news outlets have been buzzing with the climate-change debate, focusing on its impact on weather patterns and potentially avoidable weather-related accidents like the one in Mokwa.
- The Nigerian government should prioritize capital investments in science fields, particularly weather-forecasting and environmental-science to enhance disaster preparedness and protect its citizens from weather-related accidents like the one in Mokwa.
