In a tragedy that has left a community in shambles, residents of Tiffin Maza in Niger State, Nigeria, are grappling with the overwhelming aftermath of catastrophic floods that has claimed at least 200 lives and left hundreds more missing. The floodwaters, which surged unexpectedly, have washed away entire families, destroyed homes, and left a trail of despair that will take years to heal.

Adamu Yusuf, a 36-year-old father, recounts the haunting night he watched helplessly as water engulfed his community and claimed the lives of nine of his family members, including his wife and newborn baby. “She was the one who woke me when the flood hit,” he recalls, his voice trembling with grief. “I quickly gathered the family and told everyone to hold one another. As we stepped outside, we saw water everywhere in our living room and the compound. They panicked and we got disconnected.” His wife and infant had only just returned to Mokwa a day before, after weeks at her parents' house following her childbirth.

“I watched helplessly as water washed away my family. I survived because I can swim. It was God that saved me,” Yusuf said, tears streaming down his face as he stands on the remnants of what was once his home.

The local authorities have confirmed the grim toll continues to rise. As of Sunday, the death count has surged from 110 to over 200, with estimates suggesting that more than 500 residents are still missing. Rescue operations have been effectively halted, with officials indicating that hope of finding survivors is diminishing amid the rising despair.

In Tiffin Maza, the scene is one of heartbreaking destruction. Vestiges of homes—soaked mattresses, scattered clothes, and crushed roofing sheets—lie among the debris. Many structures bear the scars of the flood, with roofs ripped away and walls collapsed. An expansive, waterless space now dominates what was once a vibrant community.

Standing amid the ruins, Yusuf gazes sorrowfully at the void where his home once stood. “I lost everything to this flood. But the most painful is that of my family. The only valuable I have now is this cloth I am wearing, which was given to me by a friend,” he lamented. With the loss of most of his loved ones confirmed, Yusuf has resigned himself to a future shrouded in tragedy, clinging only to hope that others may be found alive.

The human toll hits close to home for many residents, including Isa Muhammed, a 19-year-old high school graduate. His grief is palpable as he recounts the destruction of his beloved teacher’s home, where eight family members, including the teacher and his infant niece, were trapped inside. “Two have been found dead; one of them was his baby. My teacher, his second child, his sister, and four others are still missing. A building fell on his wife, who wasn’t even inside the house, and she died instantly,” Muhammed said, voice choked with emotion.

Muhammed, who also mourns his uncle Musa—a man who took care of him after his father’s death in 2023—describes the profound impact of the disaster. “Uncle Musa was a very good friend to my late father. He took care of me. He taught me to value education and do the right thing. I haven’t been able to sleep since this happened. Every time I think about him, tears come to my eyes,” he shared.

As the waters receded, residents gathered in the community to mourn their losses, offer condolences, and launch cleanup and search efforts. The floodwaters, which some residents stated reached as high as 7 feet (2.1 meters), left a foul smell in the air—an ominous sign that bodies may still be buried beneath the mud and debris.

Many residents expressed confusion and frustration about the unexpected nature of the floods. “This is unlike any flood I’ve seen before,” said 65-year-old Ramat Sulaiman, whose house was entirely destroyed. “I am grateful my family survived, but the destruction is heartbreaking.” Another resident, Ms. Sulaiman, recounted awakening to find no water outside her home initially, only to be overwhelmed moments later by a deafening rush of floodwaters she described as having no clear source.

“There’s a reason people say this flood came from God,” Sulaiman added. “The rain had stopped, and no water was around, yet suddenly, the waters came gushing down at high speed.”

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the deluge. While some local officials dismissed the heavy rains as the primary culprit, residents believed otherwise. “The rain stopped before the floods started,” Muhammed explained. “It just came out of nowhere.” District head Alhaji Muhammadu Shaba Aliyu hinted at the presence of a reservoir in the area that can spill unexpectedly but acknowledged that the magnitude of this flood was unprecedented.

Complicating the search for causes and victims, reports indicate that bodies washed away by the floodwaters have been strewn across neighboring villages and even the town of Rabba, an hour’s drive from Mokwa, illustrating the river’s destructive reach. Some corpses remain unrecovered, and authorities have advised neighboring villages to assist in burying any bodies they find.

The Nigerian government, through the National Emergency Management Agency, assures that emergency responders are providing medical treatment to the injured and placing displaced victims in resettlement camps. Relief materials are being distributed, but the scale of devastation has overwhelmed the usual response efforts.

Meteorological forecasts project an extended rainy season—up to 200 days—in central Nigeria this year, raising concerns about ongoing flooding. The government has launched awareness campaigns to alert citizens of flood risks, given that 30 out of Nigeria’s 36 states are vulnerable to flooding, with Niger State being among the most at risk.

As the community begins the long, painful process of rebuilding, the survivors, especially those who have lost loved ones, struggle with the reality that some wounds may never fully heal. Yet, amidst the grief, there remains a resilient hope that with aid and community effort, they will find a way forward from this tragic chapter.