Flood hits a larger part of Maiduguri metropolis, including the Shehu of Borno’s palace, the State Secretariat, , Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) office, State Specialist Hospital, among others, following the collapse of the Alau Dam in Konduga local government area of Borno State.
The dam’s failure in the early hours of Tuesday led to extensive damage, submerging several critical areas and leaving parts of the city inaccessible.
The flood also affected Millionaires Quarters around Gamboru Ward, with the popular Lagos Bridge and the Moduganari bypass bridge being completely submerged.
Zoo Road is now underwater, with water rushing towards the College of Health Technology and threatening other parts of the city, including the Commissioner of Police Junction via Damboa Road.
The Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Park and the popular Maiduguri Zoo have also been overtaken by water, forcing staff to evacuate.
Animals such as snakes and crocodiles have escaped through water channels, sparking panic among residents who are frantically trying to save their possessions from the rising floodwaters.
This disaster is considered worse than a previous flooding incident in 1994, occurring almost exactly 30 years later in the month of September. The recurrence of such a catastrophe has left many in Maiduguri devastated.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno State, Comrade Bulama Abiso, has called for urgent humanitarian intervention.
Abiso emphasized the devastating impact on families, especially women and children, and urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) to provide critical aid to affected communities.
He stressed the need for adherence to core humanitarian principles such as neutrality, impartiality, and independence, stating, “Our focus should be on safeguarding the well-being and dignity of those affected, providing aid based on genuine need, ensuring fair and unbiased distribution of assistance, and maintaining autonomy in our decision-making and actions.”
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Abiso further called for emergency aid in the form of food, shelter, and essential non-food items, alongside efforts to evacuate and relocate displaced persons.
He urged collaboration with the government and other stakeholders to ensure an effective and united response to the crisis, saying, “Let us stand together to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to the people of Maiduguri, upholding the fundamental values of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence in our response.”
In response to the disaster, the Borno State government has reopened the Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Maiduguri to relocate those displaced by the flood.
One victim recounted how the floodwaters breached the Fori bridge, connecting Fori and Galtimari to Tashan Bama, and swept through homes with immense force.
“Everyone should avoid the post office, Monday market, even the route behind the zoo along Hissan fueling station as the flood has taken over and the road is not motorable,” warned a local resident named Refeal.
A resident of Galtimari described the panic when they were alerted to the rising water levels at around 12:30 AM.
“Before we could gather our clothes and school credentials, the water was already waist-deep in our house,” the resident lamented.
The flood has made many areas in Maiduguri inaccessible, submerging residential quarters, roads, and bridges.
Critical infrastructure, including parts of the Shehu of Borno Palace, the Maiduguri Central Market, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, has also been heavily affected.
Other badly hit areas include the Government Reserved Area (GRA), Maiduguri Zoo, the College of Nursing, the College of Agriculture, and the School of Health Technology.
The situation remains dire, with calls for additional assistance to mitigate the flood’s devastating impact on Maiduguri’s residents and infrastructure.
