A sudden flood has caused widespread destruction in Cegama village and surrounding communities in Mokwa Local Government Area, Niger State, severely impacting dry-season rice farmers and wiping out vast farmlands.
The flood, triggered by the release of water from a nearby dam, surged through the rice fields, destroying months of hard work and investment.
Reports indicated that several farmers, who had traveled from states including Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano, and Maiduguri, now face the harsh reality of rebuilding from scratch.
Farmers who spoke to our reporter described the loss as catastrophic, estimating it in trillions of naira.
They lamented that the floodwaters arrived too rapidly, leaving them with no time to salvage their crops.
“We’ve not slept in days. Everything is gone,” one of the affected farmers, Ibrahim Ndakosu lamented. “This is not just about money, it is our sweat, our lives.”
Cegama had become a hub for dry-season rice farming, attracting farmers from across the north.
They appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, the Ministers of Agriculture and Water Resources, and other relevant agencies to urgently provide relief and find lasting solutions.
“This is a disaster we cannot ignore,” a village elder said. “Our people are hungry, hopeless, and in pain.”
The Chairman of Mokwa Local Government and the Niger State arm of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC) are also being urged to assess the damage and assist the affected farmers.
