Number of People Killed and Displaced in September Flooding Finally Released

Number of People Killed and Displaced in September Flooding Finally Released

  • NEMA reported at least 232 deaths, 121,000 displaced, and massive losses, including 42,301 homes and 48,000 farmlands destroyed by floods
  • Niger, Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Lagos, and Sokoto were among the worst-hit states, with Niger recording 163 deaths alone
  • Victims urgently need food, shelter, health services, and water, while relief efforts face resource shortages, inaccessibility, and security challenges

FCT, Abuja - The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has revealed that at least 232 people have died and over 121,000 displaced across Nigeria following floods as of September 20.

Figures obtained from NEMA’s 2025 flood dashboard also showed that 339,658 people recorded losses, 681 sustained injuries, and 115 went missing.

Authorities have issued a report revealing the death toll and number of people displaced during the September flooding.
A fresh report by officials has confirmed how many people were killed and displaced in the September flooding. Photo credit: AFP / Stringer/OLYMPIA DE MAISMON
Source: Getty Images

The agency noted that 42,301 houses were damaged, while more than 48,000 hectares of farmland were destroyed.

List of states most affected by flooding

According to NEMA, Niger, Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe, Borno, Gombe and Jigawa recorded fatalities, with Niger state alone accounting for 163 deaths.

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In Lagos, nearly 58,000 residents were affected, with over 3,600 displaced. The worst affected was Adamawa, with 23,077 displaced, 59 dead, 438 wounded, and over 9,000 farms destroyed, Punch reported..

Some of the hardest-hit states included Akwa Ibom, Imo, Rivers, Delta, Abia, Edo, and Sokoto.

NEMA: Emergencies identified as victims' needs

The victims' most urgent needs were food, shelter, health care, water and sanitation, and livelihood support, NEMA said.

The agency also emphasized lack of resources, unavailability of the flooded areas, security, and resistance from the community as key challenges to relief delivery.

Gombe confirms 15 killed and 986 internally displaced families

Confirming the impact in Gombe, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Haruna Abdullahi, said:

“The situation is worrying. From the beginning of this rainy season till date, we have recorded 15 deaths, and close to 1,000 households have been displaced across different communities.”

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He also disclosed that a canoe accident in Funakaye LGA led to five deaths.

Sokoto, Kano and Kaduna struggle with rising waters

Rising water levels put Sokoto, Kano and Kaduna on edge.
Sokoto, Kano and Kaduna struggle as water levels continue to rise. Photo credit: @Nigeriastories
Source: Getty Images

In Sokoto, NEMA reported that 61 communities in Rabah LGA were ravaged earlier this month, displacing over 5,000 households, Vanguard reported.

Kano officials confirmed widespread destruction of houses and farmlands due to heavy rainfall and windstorms. In Kaduna, torrential rains displaced 970 residents and destroyed 270 homes in Zaria and parts of Kaduna metropolis.

Nasarawa, Jigawa take preventive measures

The Nasarawa SEMA said it was sensitising residents in 13 LGAs and urging relocation from flood-prone areas.

Meanwhile, Jigawa officials reported no major displacement so far, crediting the state’s ₦4.2bn investment in flood mitigation, including dredging rivers and building embankments.

NiMet releases weather forecast, advises Nigerians

Legit.ng earlier reported that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) released a fresh weather forecast, predicting sunshine and haziness across the country from Saturday, January 18, to Monday, January 20, 2025.

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FG warns as Niger and Benue Rivers hit dangerous levels

NiMet released the new weather forecast on Friday, January 17. The outlook envisages sunny skies on Sunday in a hazy atmosphere over the northern regions over the next three days.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ezra Ukanwa avatar

Ezra Ukanwa (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Ezra Ukanwa is a Reuters-certified journalist with over 5 years of professional experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Anchor University, Lagos. Currently, he is the Politics and Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng, where he brings his expertise to provide incisive, impactful coverage of national events. Ezra was recognized as Best Campus Journalist at the Anchor University Communications Awards in 2019 and is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). Contact him at: ezra.ukanwa@corp.legit.ng or +2349036989944