For hundreds of families in Mokwa, Niger State, this year’s Eid-el-Kabir brought no joy. Instead of celebrations, the air was filled with sorrow, unanswered questions, and the unbearable weight of grief.
While Muslims across the world marked Sallah with prayers and feasting, residents of flood-devastated communities in Mokwa were left searching for missing loved ones, combing through debris, and mourning those swept away in a flood that claimed nearly 200 lives and displaced over 3,000 people.
For many, Eid was a reminder not of festivity but of profound personal loss.
On Friday, fathers, mothers, and children still searching for family members said they had no reason to say “Eid Mubarak.” Their prayers were not for joy—but for closure.
Bittersweet Eid in Mokwa as Flood Survivors Mourn Losses
According to a June 3 report from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), 160 people were confirmed dead, 84 declared missing, 11 injured, and more than 3,000 residents affected. The federal government has since approved ₦2 billion for reconstruction efforts and dispatched truckloads of food as immediate relief. The Niger State Government also pledged further support in the form of essential supplies for displaced families.
But despite these efforts, the pain lingers.
At the Tasim Maza Primary School in Mokwa, where many survivors have taken refuge, grief runs deep.
“We were together that Wednesday night when the rain began,” said a displaced man, holding back tears. “He was outside, trying to protect our belongings from the rain. That was the last time I saw him. Now, all I have are the clothes I’m wearing. Everything else is gone. I don’t even know where to begin. I’m in so much pain.”
Fatima Jibrin, another victim, lost two of her children. Her co-wife lost four.
“I’ll never forget that day,” she said. “This Sallah means nothing to me. I’ve lost everything. I wish the flood had taken me too.”
Jibrin recounted that the waters came suddenly around 7:30 a.m., engulfing their home before they could escape. “We didn’t stand a chance,” she said.
Rukkayat Mohammed, 23, is a mother of two. Her husband has been missing since the flood. “We had big plans for this Sallah,” she said. “Now I’m just waiting, not knowing if my husband is alive or dead. How can I celebrate?”
Her voice trembled as she explained, “I have two children, my co-wife has four. That makes six. The flood took everything. We didn’t find their bodies. We’re still hoping.”
Sofiyat Liman, 25, lost all four of her children—three girls and a boy.
“They were still sleeping that morning,” she said. “Suddenly, people were screaming. I panicked. Before I could get them, the water took them. We haven’t found their bodies yet, but I’m still hoping.”
A longtime resident of Anguwan Hausawa also expressed his despair. “I’ve lived here for over 35 years,” he said, “and I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s heartbreaking.”
Some displaced persons were initially relocated to Kpege Primary School in Mokwa by the Niger State Emergency Management Agency. However, they later abandoned the site due to its poor condition.
When Saturday PUNCH visited Kpege Primary School, the camp was deserted. Only a few social workers, including staff from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), remained.
One of the social workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the displaced persons had moved to the Tasim Maza Primary School, where the conditions were relatively better.
There, Saturday PUNCH witnessed a large number of women and children crammed into makeshift spaces—each with their own story of loss, each clinging to hope.
For Mokwa’s flood victims, this year’s Eid wasn’t marked by new clothes or shared meals. It was marked by mourning, resilience, and the hope that, someday, healing will come.
