The Niger State Government has said that more than 700 people are still missing after a deadly flood swept through Mokwa community in Mokwa Local Government Area.
Governor Umaru Bago made this known on Monday while receiving former Chief Security Officer to late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, who visited Minna to sympathise with the state. The governor was represented by his deputy, Mr Yakubu Garba.
According to Bago, 207 people have so far been confirmed dead, while over 3,000 households have been displaced by the disaster.
“Over 700 persons are still missing and we are yet to ascertain where they are. The flooding has caused extensive damage,” he said.
The governor also revealed that 400 houses were damaged in the flood, with 283 houses and 50 shops completely destroyed. He described the incident as a national disaster and thanked individuals and organisations who have made donations so far.
He added that the state government is working with experts to find out the cause of the flood and is waiting for the results of the assessment.
In his remarks, Al-Mustapha said the purpose of his visit was to express sympathy to the Niger State Government and the people of Mokwa who were affected by the disaster.
“We are here to register our condolences over the flood incident that happened in Mokwa, looking at the heavy losses and its impact on the state,” he said.
Al-Mustapha explained that his delegation includes respected individuals from different parts of the country who came to support and show care to the affected communities.
He also said the group would meet with traditional rulers, especially the chairman of the council in Mokwa, to discuss how to prevent such disasters in the future.
“We pray that this kind of incident doesn’t happen again,” he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Al-Mustapha and his team also visited former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd), during their visit to Minna.
