International News
FLOOD: Mokwa Victims Decry Food Shortage, Poor Camp Conditions
Days after floods severe several communities in the Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, victims at makeshift camps continue to voice deep dissatisfaction over the handling of relief efforts.
A visit to the affected communities by our correspondent revealed the frustration and disappointment of flood victims, especially over the lack of adequate food supplies and poor camp conditions.
Many displaced residents lamented that although they were photographed with food items by authorities and relief personnel, they were not given the supplies.
One of the victims, Mama Isah, expressed her pain, saying: “We are 17 people in my household, but we were only given one loaf of bread and some tea. How can that be enough for even our breakfast?”
She appealed to the government to allow well-meaning individuals and organisations to support them directly without interference or diversion.
Another victim, Rukaiya Usman, echoed similar concerns, criticising the quantity of food being distributed.
“We are barely surviving. The food they bring is not enough for any family. We feel forgotten,” she said.
Beyond food shortages, the condition of the camps has also come under scrutiny. A community volunteer, Hussaini Muhammed, described the camps as unsuitable for human habitation.
“There are no toilet facilities, and we don’t have access to clean drinking water. People are getting sick,” he said.
Ibrahim Abubakar, another volunteer, noted the complete absence of major emergency response agencies at Kpege Primary School, which serves as one of the major shelters.
“NEMA, NSEMA, and other authorities are nowhere to be found. Everything here is being done by members of the community,” he alleged.
On the healthcare front, Victoria Abubakar, a health volunteer, confirmed that all medical assistance and supplies being given to flood victims are sourced through personal and community efforts.
“We are giving out drugs and attending to sick victims out of goodwill. None of this is coming from the government,” she said.
In response to the mounting complaints, former Deputy Governor of Niger State, Ahmed Ketso, urged both the federal and state governments to intensify efforts and collaborate more effectively in alleviating the sufferings of the flood victims.
Reacting to the allegations, the Acting Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Hussaini Ibrahim, acknowledged the gaps in the relief operations.
“The challenges we are facing are partly due to the absence of a conventional camp,” he explained.
He added that the agency is currently undertaking a comprehensive data-capturing exercise to accurately identify real victims and ensure relief materials reach the intended recipients.
“We are working to ensure that the right people get what they deserve. This process takes time, but we are committed to transparency and fairness,” he said.
As the victims wait for adequate relief and support, the call for immediate and coordinated government intervention continues to grow louder.
German authorities deported at least 137 Nigerian citizens across five chartered flights between February and June 2026, according to migration monitoring reports.
Data from the DERS Team and Refugees4refugees.org shows the deportations occurred in phases, with 27 Nigerians returned in February, 37 in March through a joint European Union operation, 24 in April, 23 in May, and 26 in June.
The February operation departed from Stuttgart and landed at Lagos Cargo Airport, with Baden-Württemberg listed as a primary participant. The March operation represented the largest single return of Nigerians recorded over three years and was executed in collaboration with Spain, Austria, and Belgium.
The reports indicate a growing reliance on multi-national chartered flights by European states to repatriate undocumented or non-resident individuals to Nigeria.
The United States has condemned the killing of members of the family of Plateau-based cleric, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, describing the attack as horrific and urging Nigerian authorities to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
In a statement shared on X on Thursday, the US Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs expressed condolences to the victims’ families and called for stronger measures to prevent further attacks on vulnerable communities across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
“The United States strongly condemns the horrific killing of members of Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo’s family in Plateau State, Nigeria. The continued violence targeting Christian communities and other vulnerable populations in Nigeria’s Middle Belt is deeply alarming,” the bureau said
The US said it had already engaged Nigerian officials on the worsening security situation, stressing that urgent action was needed to curb recurring attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.
“As I discussed last week with Nigerian officials, we must do more to prevent violent acts. The perpetrators must be held accountable, and urgent action is needed to strengthen security and protect Christians and other vulnerable communities,” the statement added.
The bureau reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to working with the Nigerian government to combat terrorism and violent extremism, stressing that Christians and other Nigerians should be able to practise their faith without fear of violence.
The statement followed the July 12 attack on Kum community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, where nine members of Rev. Dachomo’s extended family, including a two-month-old baby, were killed.
According to the cleric, the attackers, believed to be armed Fulani militias, asked for him by name before opening fire on his relatives.
Dachomo, who serves as Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, said his family had repeatedly been targeted because of his outspoken criticism of the violence in Plateau State.
He recalled that his grandmother and an uncle were also killed in previous attacks, adding that days after burying his relatives, he received a written death threat from the same group, warning that he would be their next target.
Saudi Arabia has updated its tourist eVisa programme for 2026, limiting eligibility in Africa to only three countries as part of its list of 66 nations whose citizens can apply through the Kingdom’s online visa platform.
The move leaves most African countries, including Nigeria, outside the simplified entry scheme.
The electronic visa allows eligible travellers to visit Saudi Arabia for tourism, leisure activities, family visits and Umrah, excluding the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Applications are completed online, eliminating the need for embassy visits and lengthy visa processing.
Saudi authorities said the eVisa forms part of ongoing efforts to expand tourism, attract international visitors and simplify travel procedures through a fully digital application system. The visa is available only to citizens of approved countries and territories listed on the Kingdom’s official tourism portal.
Below is the list of African countries eligible for Saudi Arabia’s eVisa.
1. Mauritius
2. Seychelles
3. South Africa
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