Civil Rights advocacy Group: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has heavily carpeted the Niger state government for letting over 200 people perish in a clearly avoidable disaster which the weather experts in Abuja had correctly predicted since the last couple of days before it occurred.
Besides, HURIWA condemns the tendencies of public officials rushing to disaster afflicted centres to doll out cash to victims and families whose lovely family members were left to die by the inaction, wilful negligence of government officials as if to say cash donations would wake up the dead who were left to die in the flash floods in Mokwa Niger State. “Government must protect the citizens from untimely and avoidable deaths and when these occur, the relevant officials who failed in their duties should be fired and prosecuted for CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE.
HURIWA in a media statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko situated the blame for the avoidable deaths of citizens on the spectacular failure of governance in Niger state even as the Rights group asserted that the high death toll from devastating flooding in a market town in Nigeria’s north-central state of Niger rose to at least 200 on Sunday, just as the Rights group described the consequences of the disaster as despicable, reprehensible and highly regrettable given that it was actually possible for the government to have effectively implemented measures to avoid these massive casualties by evacuating the residents who live near areas that are prone to flash floods.
“There is no magic in this. The weather forecasters clearly warned citizens about the flash floods and correctly listed the states that may be affected. How come that Niger State government was found wanting and the officials are now running from pillar to posts when the deeds are already done and over 200 people needlessly killed by the avoidable disaster? Just look at how the news of this needless disaster is becoming front page story in global media publications.
HURIWA quoting media report said torrents of predawn rainfall early Thursday unleashed the devastating flood on Mokwa, nearly 236 miles west of Abuja and a major trading and transportation hub where northern Nigerian farmers sell beans, onions and other food to traders from the south.
The deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government, Musa Kimboku, confirmed the updated fatality count to The Associated Press on Sunday. He said rescue operations have been called off, as authorities no longer believe there are any survivors.
To prevent the outbreak of disease, officials are currently exhuming bodies buried beneath the rubble, Kimboku added.
On Saturday, the spokesperson for the Niger State emergency service, Ibrahim Audu Husseini, said an additional 11 people were injured and more than 3,000 people were displaced.
“We in HURIWA completely condemns the extensive criminal negligence from relevant Niger state government officials who stood by, took no remedial action even when there were early warnings but they simply left the people to die in their hundreds and now the officials and wives of government officials are throwing money around as if to say their belated donations can resuscitate any of the dead.”
The wife of Niger Governor, Hajiya Fatima Bago, had reportedly visited victims of the recent flood disaster in Mokwa Local Government Area, where she announced a personal donation of N50 million.
She said that the donation was on behalf of herself and her family to the victims, to help cushion the effect of the flood disaster.
“We are here to console victims of the flood disaster and to assess the situation. The flooding has happened, and from what we saw, it is really not exciting to behold.
HURIWA wants the governor to explain why the people were abandoned to die despite the fact that the weather forecasters clearly warned about the disasters? The governor should dismiss officials of the ministry of Environment who ought to be on top of the situation by evacuating the citizens so they are safe.
*Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko,
National Coordinator,
HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA). JUNE 3RD 2025.
