Nigeria, May 29 -- At least 20 people were killed after a flood submerged many houses in Mokwa, a commercial town in Niger State, on Thursday.

The flood followed a midnight downpour that lasted for more than five hours.

Residents who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES blamed the flood on the collapse of a small dam around New Bussa, a neighbouring town where the Kainji Lake Dam is located.

More than 20 bodies, including those of minors and women, have been recovered, a resident,t Umar Yunus, said.

Our reporter saw gory pictures and footage of the recovered bodies.

"Many of those bodies were discovered around nearby bushes in Mokwa," said Mr Yunusa. "Many people are still missing."

"This is a sad event and heavy flood that I haven't witnessed ...