Victims suspect Kainji Dam water release triggered disaster as survivors recount harrowing escapes
Residents of Mokwa Local Government Area in Niger State are grappling with unimaginable loss and trauma after a catastrophic flood swept through the region on May 29, 2025, leaving more than 150 people dead and over 3,000 buildings completely submerged.
What makes the tragedy even more confounding is that the flood came without warning — and without rain. Many locals strongly suspect the sudden deluge was triggered by a release of water from the nearby Kainji Dam, a massive hydroelectric dam on the Niger River. Authorities have yet to confirm or deny this theory, but the timing and sheer volume of water have raised serious questions.
Among those hardest hit is AbdulGafar, a newlywed whose dreams were washed away in a matter of minutes.
> “I just got married in February. My wife and I lost everything — all the household items she brought into the marriage, all our personal belongings, and even the building I was still constructing,” he said, his voice heavy with despair.
> “We are now homeless. We have nothing left — not even a pin. I came out of the flood with just my singlet and boxers. Not even my phone was saved. It’s a terrible time. I don’t even know where to begin.”
The emotional toll is palpable, as victims struggle to comprehend the magnitude of their losses. AbdulGafar says he not only lost his home and possessions, but also his hard-earned savings and investments — including the building materials and structure of an ongoing construction project.
Salihu Suleiman, another victim, painted an equally grim picture. The flood swept away his home, a significant amount of cash, and numerous bags of harvested farm produce that were stored after recent sales.
> “We’ve seen erosion before, but this is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced,” he said. “There was no heavy rainfall before the incident. This wasn’t rain — this was a torrent. A rush of water so violent and so sudden, it could only have come from the dam.”
According to Salihu, the flood hit at dawn, just after he and his wife had finished their early morning prayers.
> “My mother came knocking frantically, shouting that water was coming. I had to run out immediately, dragging my wife with me. We escaped with nothing. The flood swallowed everything — furniture, money, electronics, even our clothes.”
The exact cause of the flooding remains under investigation, but all fingers point to the Kainji Dam, a major infrastructure project built for power generation, irrigation, and water supply. Though essential to the nation’s economy, the dam has long been a subject of concern for communities living downstream.
By Saturday, emergency responders and local volunteers had recovered over 150 bodies, with more still unaccounted for. Entire communities lie in ruins, farmlands have been destroyed, and thousands of residents are now displaced, relying on makeshift shelters and aid from humanitarian organizations.
As questions mount and the death toll climbs, survivors are calling for a thorough probe into the incident. Many demand accountability — and support — from both state and federal authorities.
> “We need more than condolences. We need answers. And above all, we need help to rebuild our lives,” said AbdulGafar.
The Mokwa disaster now stands as one of the deadliest flooding incidents in Nigeria’s recent history — a chilling reminder of the fragile balance between man-made infrastructure and the lives it is meant to support.
PIONEER NEWS 