Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Mokwa, Niger State, to assess the damage and commiserate with residents following a devastating flood disaster that has claimed over 200 lives and displaced hundreds.
Shettima touched down around 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday and was received by state officials and emergency response teams. His visit comes amid ongoing rescue and recovery operations across several flooded communities.
On Tuesday, the Niger State Government confirmed the recovery of seven additional bodies, bringing the official death toll to over 200. According to the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, four bodies were recovered on Monday, one in the early hours of Tuesday, and two more later that evening. All have since been buried.
The floods, which began last week following heavy rainfall and the overflowing of riverbanks in Mokwa and nearby communities, have left widespread destruction in their wake — washing away homes, farmlands, and key infrastructure.
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Emergency responders and volunteers continue to search for missing persons while distributing relief materials to displaced families sheltered in temporary camps.
Vice President Shettima is expected to meet with local leaders, victims’ families, and disaster response agencies to coordinate federal assistance. His visit follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive to allocate emergency funds and deploy more humanitarian resources to the state.
In the wake of the tragedy, several state events have been suspended, and public mourning has been declared.
The Mokwa flood disaster is now one of the deadliest natural tragedies in recent Nigerian history, with calls mounting for urgent investment in flood control systems and climate resilience strategies.
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