Seven missing, 89 houses destroyed in Niger flood

Seven persons have been declared missing in a flooding incident that happened in the early hours of Friday in two local governments in Niger State.

The flooding caused by torrential rainfall in Sabon Pegi in Mashegu LG and Nassarawa in Magama LG lasted from 2 am to 12 noon, affecting over 89 houses and three vehicles and destroying hundreds of hectares of farmland.

The Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arab, who confirmed the incident on Friday, said search and rescue operations were still going on to find the victims.

In a statement by the spokesman for the agency, Hussaine Ibrahim, the Director General, said already, seven people had been declared missing.

“NSEMA has received reports of flood disasters in Mashegu and Magama LGAs. The flood was caused by torrential rainfall that lasted through the early hours of Friday, August 30 (2 am to 12 pm).

“As of the time of filing this report, seven people have been declared missing, over 89 houses were affected, hundreds of hectares of farmlands, and three vehicles were washed away.

“Communities affected are the environs of Sabon Pegi in Mashegu LG and Nassarawa of Magama LG.

“Meanwhile, search and rescue operations are still ongoing by NSEMA staff and its volunteers, including local riverine communities,” the statement read.

According to Online reports that recently, severe flooding in Nigeria, driven by heavy rains and river overflows, has displaced thousands and caused extensive damage to homes, buildings, and infrastructure.

Sometimes, entire communities could submerge, leading to significant economic losses and urgent humanitarian needs for shelter, food, and medical aid.