The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has held the Niger State government responsible for the death of over 200 people in what it described as an avoidable disaster caused by flash floods in Mokwa, Niger State.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA criticised the government for failing to act on early warnings from weather experts in Abuja, who had accurately predicted the floods.

The group described the loss of lives as a consequence of what it termed “criminal negligence” and a failure of governance.

HURIWA condemned the practice of public officials visiting disaster sites to distribute cash to victims and bereaved families, stating that monetary donations could not undo the loss of lives .

“The government’s priority should be to protect citizens from avoidable deaths. When such tragedies occur due to negligence, those responsible must be dismissed and prosecuted,” the statement read.

The rights group noted that the death toll from the flooding, which struck a market town in Mokwa, had risen to at least 200 as of Sunday. It described the disaster as despicable and regrettable, stressing that the government could have prevented the massive casualties by evacuating residents from flood-prone areas.

“There is no magic in this,” HURIWA stated. “Weather forecasters clearly warned about the flash floods and listed the states at risk. How is it that Niger State officials failed to act, leaving over 200 people to perish in an avoidable disaster?”

HURIWA further accused government officials of scrambling to the scene after the tragedy, distributing cash in a manner that the group described as “belated and insensitive”. It called on the governor to hold officials in the Ministry of Environment accountable, demanding the dismissal of those who failed to take preventive action.

“The governor must explain why these citizens were abandoned to their fate despite clear warnings from weather experts,” the group added.