The death toll from the catastrophic flood that ravaged Mokwa in Niger State has climbed to 200, with more than 1,000 people still unaccounted for, according to the state?s Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba.

Garba disclosed the alarming figures while receiving former presidential candidate Peter Obi at the Government House in Minna. Obi visited to condole with the state over the disaster that has left thousands displaced and entire communities submerged.

Providing a harrowing update, the Deputy Governor revealed that over 3,000 people had been displaced while more than 2,000 houses were either damaged or completely destroyed. ?The number of bodies recovered continues to rise hourly as families desperately search for missing loved ones,? Garba said.

He described the flood as one of the most tragic disasters in the state?s recent history, noting that the number of those missing, and likely swept away, is above 1,000. ?We have reviewed house to house, and based on the household, the number of people that are yet to be seen is more than 1,000,? he added.

?In our time, you will see that number continue scaling up. The dead that have been seen?physically dead?are almost close to 200 now,? Garba said, emphasising the scale of destruction that also included collapsed bridges and eroded roads.

Peter Obi, who visited alongside former Minister of Finance, Mr. Bernadus Phan, expressed his deep sorrow at the scale of human loss and pledged solidarity with the victims and the government.

?We are just here to condole and show our solidarity? because whatever happened here happened in Nigeria. And we?re all Nigerians. And we are brothers and sisters,? Obi said.

The Labour Party chieftain described Niger State as a critical asset in Nigeria?s agricultural transformation and called for substantial investment in the state and in Borno. ?Nigeria has no reason to be one of the hungriest countries in the world,? Obi said. ?We can make more money from agriculture than we can from oil. Oil is a diminishing asset. Agriculture is Nigeria?s future asset.?

Obi donated ?20 million to support flood victims and commended the state government?s emergency response. He urged the federal government and development partners to invest in long-term mitigation and infrastructure to reduce the impact of natural disasters.

?This is a time for action and investment, not rhetoric,? Obi added, stressing that states like Niger hold the key to Nigeria?s economic revival. (AriseNews TV, but headline rejigged)

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