Mokwa Flood: Locals Battle Stench From Decaying Corpses
Nearly two weeks after devastating floods swept through Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, residents are complaining about the stench of decaying corpses believed to be those of flood victims still buried under sand and debris.
They described the lingering odour as a reminder of the tragedy and a growing health concern.
Wednesday, May 28 and Thursday, May 29, remained unforgettable for the people of Mokwa, as an estimated 200 people were drowned in a flood that followed the rainfall.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency said over 50 houses and their occupants were swept away by the flood.
The NSEMA also said over 3,000 persons were displaced, 503 households affected and an official casualty figure of 161 recovered corpses.
Days after the flood water receded, the agency announced corpses recovered in different parts of the town, with some of them buried in the ground while others were covered by debris.
The recovered corpses were later buried in the communities.
A resident, Esther Nwanosike, said the stench of decaying corpses was a major concern, adding that the smell intensified whenever the wind blew through the area.
“I sell food in a makeshift shop. The smell is overwhelming, and I am concerned about the potential health implications.
“My customers who come here to eat are complaining about it. They said they could not breathe well because of the stench.
“I think it is the corpses that have not been found and buried. The government needs to take action on this issue before we all fall ill.
“They should plan to fumigate this area to stop this bad odour,” she said.
Alhassan Kolo, another resident, said that the putrid stench of decaying corpses had filled the air.
Kolo said some of the recovered corpses had become almost unrecognisable due to decay.
“Honestly, some of the bodies we recovered, you can’t even recognise them anymore because they are decaying.
“The water has receded, but we are battling with sand pile-up and the stench. As we dig through the sand, we discover property and corpses,” he said.
Another resident, Ahmed Yusuf, who spoke in Nupe, lamented that he could not stand the stench.
“I believe the stench is from the corpses of those victims that had not been found. They are definitely decaying. I pray the government acts quickly to stop this. The stench is choking us,” he said.
The resident lamented that the corpses were many, wondering how the government would be able to recover all.
“Men, women and children died and the government has to make efforts to recover them or else we may not be able to live in this place with this smell,” he said.
Another resident, Salihu Ishaq, said that many of the displaced persons did not want to stay in the internally displaced persons camps opened by the government.
“My name is Salihu Ishaq from Mokwa Local Government. This incident is very disastrous because we didn’t expect it.
“Since I was born, I have never seen this kind of flood. Many villages around Mokwa were also affected.
“I have a sister who alongside her three children was swept away by the flood.
“The flood washed away more than 50 houses. We have buried more than 70 and we are still searching for more corpses because there are more missing persons,” he added.
Lamenting their losses, some of the residents appealed to the government to come to their rescue.
Following the incident, the Federal Government, speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima, during his visit, announced a N2bn donation to rehabilitate the town and the victims.
The government also donated foodstuff and other necessities.
Also, the state government, on Monday, announced a N1bn donation to rehabilitate the victims.
A resident, Amina Abubakar, who said she lost a sister and her three children, appealed to the government to come to the rescue of the people
“We are still searching for the children. They may be dead by now. There are so many other people from our community who are missing and may not be found again.
“The Federal Government should come to our aid. Most people have lost everything and don’t know where to start. The government should come in immediately, it is very urgent,” Abubakar said.
The Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Secondary and Tertiary Health, Idris Ibrahim, said on Monday that the government was aware of the stench and was doing something about it.
“We are doing something about it. A prevention control team is there and officials are working round the clock to ensure that the smell issue is addressed,” he said.
When asked if there was a plan to relocate the residents, Ibrahim said, “The state government is working to address the situation. The governor was there today, it is part of what we are discussing.”