Disaster Binds Muslims and Christians to Care for One Another
By Luka Binniyat
(Kaduna) A catastrophic flood that swept through Mokwa Local Government Area in Niger State has claimed more than 150 lives and displaced thousands, further compounding the humanitarian crisis in a region already plagued by persistent terrorist violence.
Triggered by several days of relentless rainfall, the flood submerged large portions of Mokwa, Niger State, in Central Nigeria. Mokwa is a key agricultural town situated along the banks of the River Niger. More than 500 homes were destroyed, and entire neighborhoods, including Unguwan Hausawa and Tiffin Maza, were left in ruins. Latest casualty figures confirm 200 people dead, more than 7,000 displaced, and countless livelihoods upended.
However, beyond the humanitarian tragedy, the natural disaster has exposed the deeper layers of vulnerability in the Mokwa–Kainji region, where flooding is not the only existential threat.
For several years, terror gangs operating in the vast forests of Kainji National Park and adjacent areas routinely have targeted communities with deadly attacks, kidnappings, and extortion.
Terrorism Shadows the Tragedy
Despite its peaceful appearance, Mokwa sits perilously close to the Kainji–New Bussa corridor, a zone long infiltrated by armed groups and terror cells. These include factions of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Ansaru, and various bandit-terrorist coalitions notorious for their guerrilla tactics and hostility toward both civilian populations and security forces, TruthNigeria has learned.
Local security sources and analysts note that Mokwa’s surrounding forests and wetlands offer ideal terrain for such groups to regroup, train, and launch attacks.
“The same terrain that floods easily is also what makes it difficult for security forces to track and dislodge armed groups operating in the area,” said a senior local intelligence officer who asked not to be named.
In recent months, several attacks have been reported in the wider Borgu–Mokwa axis, including mass abductions of villagers, attacks on local community guard outposts, and targeted killings. Villages close to Kainji Lake have become hotspots for terror-linked bandit activity, prompting concerns that the flood crisis may further complicate the fragile security architecture in the region.
Humanitarian Crisis Meets Insecurity
With bridges washed away and roads impassable, emergency response teams from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have struggled to deliver aid to affected communities.
“Logistics has become a nightmare,” said Waziri Waiba, NEMA field coordinator on the ground speaking to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday.” In some areas, we’ve had to rely on canoes to reach stranded villagers,” he added.
Security concerns have further delayed relief operations. Convoys transporting food and medical supplies must be escorted by heavily armed personnel due to the risk of ambushes, sources reveal.
“The flood has not only destroyed homes; it has also exposed residents to increased insecurity. Many now sleep in open fields or churches, without protection from the elements or marauders,” said Ibrahim Tanko, a civil society volunteer coordinating local aid distribution.
A Silver Lining: Unity in Adversity
Yet, amid the ruin, stories of resilience and unity have emerged. The disaster has drawn Muslims and Christians closer together in ways rarely seen in this religiously diverse part of Nigeria. Churches, mosques, and traditional palaces have opened their doors to victims, regardless of creed or ethnicity, TruthNigeria Nigeria sources reveal.
In a joint interfaith prayer session held last Sunday at the central mosque in Mokwa, both Muslim and Christian leaders offered condolences for the lives lost and prayed for lasting peace and safety. “We must not let disaster divide us. If anything, it should unite us,” said Rev. Matthew Baba, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the area.
Sheikh Abubakar Danjuma, Chief Imam of Mokwa, echoed the sentiment. “We are one people—brothers and sisters—made vulnerable by both nature and the violence of man. Let this be a turning point.”
Calls for Long-Term Action
Experts say the crisis demands more than emergency relief. Prof. Isa Musa of Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai, said during a phone interview with TruthNigeria that the government must treat Mokwa’s plight as a multi-dimensional security- and natural disaster.
“This is a wake-up call. While flooding is a recurring seasonal hazard, combining it with insurgency and banditry creates a complex emergency. It’s time for a regional security strategy that includes climate adaptation,” he said.
The Road Ahead
While NEMA continues to distribute aid, and the Niger State government promises reconstruction support, residents of Mokwa remain on edge — not just about rebuilding their homes, but about whether they’ll live to see the next harvest season.
“Floods may destroy buildings, but terrorists destroy hope,” said 63-year-old farmer Abubakar Musa, whose home and farmland were both washed away. “We need safety, not just sandbags,” he said.
Luka Binniyat is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria based in Kaduna.
