Death toll from reaches 151 in north-central Nigeria town submerged in floods, thousands displaced

ABUJA Nigeria AP At least people have now been endorsed dead after heavy rainfall unleashed flooding in a region town in north-central Nigeria the local emergency services notified The Associated Press on Saturday More than people were displaced in the flooding in the town of Mokwa in Niger state more than miles kilometers west of Abuja the capital of Africa s majority populous nation Niger state crisis agency spokesman Ibrahim Audu Husseini noted At least households across three communities were affected in the predawn rain Friday leaving roofs barely visible and residents waist-deep in water Husseini added Communities in northern Nigeria have been experiencing prolonged dry spells worsened by setting change and excessive rainfall that leads to severe flooding during the brief wet season Nigerian President Bola Tinubu declared he has directed the activation of the national emergency response center to hurriedly assist the state Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing and all relevant federal agencies have been mobilized to aid the state ruling body s efforts Tinubu explained in a late night message Relief materials and temporary shelter assistance are being deployed without delay We will ensure that no Nigerian affected by this catastrophe is left behind or unheard of Residents were mourning the dead on Saturday as particular awaited news of their loved ones still unaccounted for They also lamented the destruction caused in the town a major meeting point where traders from the south buy beans onions and other food from farmers in the north We lost multiple lives and the properties our farm produce Those that have their storage have lost it announced resident Kazeem Muhammed Source