Lara Adejoro and Tunde Oyekola
The National Emergency Management Agency has activated its Minna Operations Office to deploy search and rescue officers and mobile support equipment to Mokwa Local Government Area, Niger State, following a severe rainfall that resulted in a flood disaster in the area.
PUNCH Online reported that the Niger State Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that at least 21 people lost their lives following the rain.
This is as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has commiserated with the Niger State Government on the incident.
The NEMA Director General, Ibrahim Hussaini, said three people were rescued alive, a woman and her two children, and were receiving treatment for wounds and shock at Mokwa General Hospital.
He added that 21 bodies have so far been recovered in the incident while over 10 persons were still missing as the search and rescue operation continued.
NEMA in a statement signed by its Director-General. Mrs. Zubaida Umar explained that a flood disaster triggered by intensive rainfall hit the Kpege neighbourhood of Mokwa town in Mokwa LGA of Niger State in the early hours of Wednesday, at 3 am when residents were mostly asleep.
She said, “Search and rescue operation by emergency volunteers of the Mokwa Local Government Area, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, and the Nigeria Red Cross is ongoing. Local volunteers are also supporting the operation. Rescued persons are being evacuated to hospital, some are being given immediate first aid while the injured are being moved to hospitals within reach.
“NEMA has activated its Minna Operations Office to deploy search and rescue officers and mobile support equipment. A team led by the NEMA, Director, Search and Rescue has also been activated from NEMA headquarters, Abuja, together with additional search and rescue officers, Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance, Rapid Intervention Vehicles, and Mobile Water Treatment equipment to support the operations. Security Agencies including the military DRUs from nearby Kainji Military formation have been contacted to support ongoing operations.
“The main priority of the operation is to rescue survivors, evacuate the injured and those that lost their lives, maintain safety, provide life-saving food, water, sanitation, temporary shelter and security, and also restore normalcy. Members of the public living in the vicinity of the incident site are advised to remain vigilant and report any incident to security operatives and emergency responders.”
She added that a comprehensive assessment will be conducted in due course to be shared with partners and to guide recovery planning.
AbdulRazaq, who is the governor of Kwara State, wrote, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum stands in solidarity with the government and people of Niger State on the devastating flood that has wreaked huge havoc in Mokwa town of the state.
“We are shocked by the magnitude of the flooding, which has resulted in the loss of lives and properties in the community.
“We sincerely commiserate with the affected families and express our support to the state government at this difficult time.
“We also commend the interventions of the Niger State Government and its coordination with the emergency responders to support the victims of this disaster.
“This flood again reminds us of the stark realities of climate change and the accompanying effects on how we live. We commit ourselves as leaders of our people to continue to work with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Emergency Management Agency to not only help our people cope with this global challenge but also to strengthen mitigative actions and relief institutions.
“We pray God to console families who have lost loved ones and properties in the Mokwa incident, and we urge citizens to support the government’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to cooperate with agencies working to assist those in urgent need at this time.”
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