At least 151 people have died in floods caused by heavy rains in north-central Nigeria, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
More than 3,000 people were forced to flee their homes in flooding in the town of Mokwa in Niger state, 300 km west of Abuja, the capital of Africa's most populous country, a spokesman for the regional disaster and emergency management agency said. At least 500 households in three communities were affected yesterday, he added.
Northern Nigeria has been gripped by a prolonged drought that is being worsened by climate change. The short rainy season sees heavy rainfall, often leading to severe flooding.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced that he had ordered the formation of a national crisis headquarters to provide immediate assistance to the stricken state.
"Search and rescue operations are continuing, with all federal agencies mobilized to support the efforts of the Niger State authorities," Tinubu said, adding that humanitarian aid and temporary shelter were being provided to those affected.
Local residents paid tribute to the dead and anxiously awaited news of their relatives who had not yet been found. They also expressed concern about the damage in Mokwa, as the city is an important trading center and supplies southern Nigeria with beans, onions and other food products produced by farmers in the north.
"We lost a lot of people, property and agricultural produce. Whoever had stored something lost it," said a local resident.