In the early hours of Friday, seven individuals were reported missing following a severe flooding incident in Niger State. The flood, triggered by torrential rainfall, affected two local government areas—Sabon Pegi in Mashegu and Nassarawa in Magama.
The deluge, which lasted from 2 a.m. to 12 noon, wreaked havoc on the communities, damaging over 89 houses, sweeping away three vehicles, and destroying hundreds of hectares of farmland.
Abdullahi Baba-Arab, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed the incident, stating that search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the missing persons.
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In a statement released by the agency’s spokesman, Hussaine Ibrahim, Baba-Arab emphasized the scale of the disaster, noting that the communities in Sabon Pegi and Nassarawa were severely impacted.
“NSEMA has received reports of flood disasters in Mashegu and Magama LGAs. The flood, caused by torrential rainfall that lasted through the early hours of Friday, August 30, has led to seven people being declared missing, with significant damage to homes, farmlands, and vehicles,” the statement read.
The flooding is part of a broader pattern of severe weather in Nigeria, where heavy rains and river overflows have displaced thousands, leading to extensive damage to infrastructure and homes. The affected communities are now in urgent need of humanitarian aid, including shelter, food, and medical assistance.