A catastrophic flood has displaced more than 414,000 people in Borno and claimed 30 lives, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
This disaster was triggered by the overflow of the Alau Dam after days of heavy rainfall, causing Maiduguri to experience its worst flooding in three decades.
Manzo Ezekiel, NEMA’s spokesperson, reported that nine Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps have been set up to shelter those affected.
“It’s 30 people that have been recorded dead so far, around 414,000 people were displaced and are in nine IDP camps across the state,” Ezekiel stated. The floodwaters, which submerged about 70% of the city at their peak, have since started to recede.
However, the damage is extensive, affecting key locations such as the Shehu of Borno’s palace, the state secretariat, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
Additionally, the flood swept away 80% of the animals at Sanda Kyarimi Park zoo and damaged numerous homes, schools, and places of worship.
President Bola Tinubu has called for immediate evacuation efforts and instructed government agencies to expedite rescue missions.
Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Maiduguri to assess the situation, while Governor Babagana Zulum announced that the federal government had allocated N3 billion for rehabilitation efforts.
The funds are intended for providing food, essential supplies, and long-term support, including health monitoring to prevent disease outbreaks.
Zulum emphasized the need for continued aid, noting, “The floods covered one-third of the city, affecting over one million people. It is very devastating.”
The flood has also led to a jailbreak at the Maiduguri correctional facility, where floodwaters weakened security barriers, allowing several inmates to escape. So far, three escapees have been recaptured, with efforts ongoing to locate the others.
