Victims of the devastating flood that struck Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging the diversion and mismanagement of relief funds and materials donated for those affected by the disaster.
The petition, dated June 26, 2026, was submitted through I.U. Wali Law Firm on behalf of Isah Abubakar, Hussaini Umar Kwangila, Bilyaminu Umar and other residents of Mokwa Local Government Area.
The petitioners are asking the anti-graft agencies to investigate the handling of donations made by the Federal Government, state authorities, corporate organisations, non-governmental organisations and individuals following the flood disaster.
The flood, which occurred on May 29, 2025, claimed about 200 lives and displaced more than 3,000 residents, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters recorded in the state.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Vice-President Kashim Shettima announced a Federal Government intervention package comprising N2 billion and 20 truckloads of grains for the affected communities. Several private organisations and humanitarian groups also donated cash and relief materials to support victims.
However, the petitioners alleged that a significant portion of the donations never reached the intended beneficiaries, accusing officials responsible for distributing the assistance of mismanaging the relief efforts.
According to the petition, more than a year after the disaster, many victims have yet to benefit from the intervention, despite the substantial donations received.
The petition specifically accused the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) of allegedly inserting the names of its staff members into the register of flood victims eligible for cash palliatives.
The residents further claimed that many genuine victims were either underpaid or excluded entirely from the distribution process.
“Some of the victims were shortchanged as opposed to what they should receive, and some of the victims did not receive anything at all,” the petition stated.
It further alleged that some beneficiaries were neither victims of the flood nor residents of Mokwa, describing the distribution exercise as being riddled with corrupt practices.
The petitioners urged the EFCC and ICPC to conduct a thorough investigation into the management of all funds and relief materials donated for the victims, identify those responsible for any wrongdoing, and ensure that those found culpable are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the EFCC, the ICPC nor the Niger State Emergency Management Agency had publicly responded to the allegations contained in the petition.