Maiduguri metropolis has been severely affected by flooding following the collapse of the Alau Dam in Konduga Local Government Area early Tuesday morning.
Major landmarks, including the Shehu of Borno’s palace, the State Secretariat, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, office, and the State Specialist Hospital, were severely flooded.
Floodwaters have also submerged the Millionaires Quarters in Gamboru Ward, with the Lagos Bridge and Moduganari bypass bridge completely covered and inaccessible. Zoo Road has been heavily flooded, extending toward the College of Health Technology, and water is now advancing towards Commissioner of Police Junction via Damboa Road.
The Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Park and Maiduguri Zoo have been particularly hard hit, forcing zoo staff to evacuate and leading to the escape of dangerous animals such as snakes and crocodiles into the surrounding areas. Residents are struggling to salvage their belongings from the floodwaters, and the situation is reportedly more severe than the devastating flood of 1994, marking a grim anniversary.
READ ALSO : Maiduguri residents on high alert as Alau Dam overflow triggers major flooding
In response to the crisis, Comrade Bulama Abiso, Executive Director of the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno State, has called for urgent humanitarian assistance for flood victims. Abiso emphasized the need for adherence to humanitarian principles—humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence—and urged civil society and community-based organizations to provide emergency aid, including food, shelter, and non-food items.
“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. Through collective action, we can truly make a positive impact and provide crucial support to those grappling with the aftermath of the floods,” Abiso stated.
Abiso also highlighted the importance of evacuating displaced persons, offering psychosocial support, and collaborating with government and other stakeholders for an effective response.
Additionally, the Borno State government has reopened the Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camp in Maiduguri to accommodate those displaced by the flood.
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