The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs in Niger State, Ahmad Suleiman, announced that more than 200 bodies have been recovered following catastrophic flood in the Mokwa Local Government Area.
During an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Suleiman stated, “We have recovered over 200 casualties but are still actively searching for more.”
He acknowledged the challenge of determining the total number of casualties, emphasizing, “Nobody can accurately report the current number of casualties in Niger State because recovery operations are ongoing.
In response to the disaster, the Umar Bago administration has initiated emergency measures and is distributing relief materials to those displaced by the floods, who are currently residing in makeshift camps.
Suleiman noted, “The state government has mobilized resources, and there’s significant support from various agencies. The extent of the damage is not fully represented on social media; visiting the affected areas reveals the harsh reality.”
He confirmed that the government has sent trailers loaded with rice to assist victims. Additionally, the governor’s wife visited the impacted communities recently, donating N50 million to support relief efforts.
However, many flood victims have voiced their frustration regarding the management of relief supplies. A visit to the camps highlighted complaints about inadequate food distribution and subpar living conditions.
Victims expressed their disappointment, with Mama Isah, a resident of one of the camps, sharing her plight: “My household has 17 members, but we received only one loaf of bread and some tea. That’s hardly enough for breakfast.”
She urged the government to allow direct support from charitable individuals and organizations without bureaucratic interference.Beyond food shortages, the living conditions in the camps have raised serious concerns.
Community volunteer Hussaini Muhammed criticized the environment, describing it as unsuitable for human habitation.
