The United States (US) has commiserated with Niger State over the flood disaster that occurred in Mokwa last week.

The United States Mission in Nigeria in a statement on Monday via its official X account said it is deeply saddened over the incident which has seen no fewer than 151 people lose their lives while more than 3,000 residents have been displaced.

“The US Mission is deeply saddened by the news of last Friday’s devastating floods that have impacted Niger State,” the statement read in part.

“During this time of immense loss and hardship, our hearts are with all those who are grieving the loss of loved ones, displaced by loss of homes and livelihoods, or struggling to find shelter.

“We are holding in our thoughts you and the federal and state emergency workers who are working to provide relief and alleviate the effects of this disaster.”

The floods that hit Mokwa in north-central Nigeria’s Niger state, are the worst in living memory, with the death toll topping 150 and continuing to climb and hundreds feared missing.

Climate change has made weather swings in Nigeria more extreme, but it became clear that other human factors were also at play.

Floodwaters would usually pass through a couple of culverts in the mounds and run into a narrow channel.

But this time, debris had blocked the culverts, forcing water to build up behind the clay walls that eventually gave way.

The resulting flood swept through the community, flattening it within hours on Thursday morning.

Volunteers and disaster response teams have been fanning out in the days since, sometimes recovering bodies nearly 10 kilometres (six miles) away after people were swept into the powerful Niger River.