Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, was hit by severe floods with the collapse of the Alau Dam Tuesday morning after torrential rainfalls in the region.
Below is a list of what we know about the flood
Alau Dam
The Alau Dam which is located in the Jere Local Government Area, some 20km away from the metropolis, broke out on Tuesday morning causing flooding along the riverine areas including major roads, zoos, schools, hospitals and other public facilities.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, blamed the flood on the overflow of Alau Dam which was caused by the release of water from other dams in Cameroon.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has described the flood as unprecedented.
“It is an unprecedented incident,” NEMA spokesman Ezekiel Manzo told AFP on Tuesday. “Some of the central parts of the city that have not witnessed flood in so many years are witnessing it today.”
History Repeating Itself?
30 years ago, Maiduguri experienced a flood which the people of Borno tagged “Ambaliya”. The flood ravaged a lot of communities and businesses. And 30 years after, another flood rocked the state as a result of explosion from the Alau dam.
But this time around, the United Nations Human Rights Refugee Council (UNHCR) and residents of the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) described the flood as the city’s worst experience when compared to the flood that swept the city in 1994.
“NE Nigeria’s humanitarian hub, Maiduguri, faces its worst flood in 30 years after the Alau Dam overflowed. Homes are submerged, schools shut down & businesses crippled as people evacuate with their belongings,” the refugee council said on its X handle.
Over One Million Displaced
According to the governor, over one million people have been displaced by the devastating floods.
A lot of these people have had to flee their homes to dry lands thus seeking refuge in Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) Camps located along the western hemisphere of the metropolis.
NEMA and other humanitarian bodies are working tirelessly to rescue those who are still trapped in their homes as well as provide shelter for those who have been evacuated.
80% Animals Dead
The Sanda Kyarimi Zoo Park was also not spared from the floods as some wild animals have escaped from captivity.
According to the General Manager of the Zoo, Ali Abatcha, 80 per cent of the animals in the zoo have been killed by the flood while others have escaped into the city.
Footage circulating on social media shows an ostrich walking one of the streets of Maiduguri. There are reports that snakes and crocodiles have also been seen moving in the flood.
Over 280 Inmates Escape Detention
Over 280 inmates have escaped from the Maiduguri Medium Security Custodial Centre located in the Abaganaran area after severe flooding submerged the prison. The flood breached security barriers and weakened the structure leading to a jailbreak.
Authorities and residents have expressed concern that many of the escapees are highly dangerous thus posing a threat to public safety.
Nevertheless, a statement from the spokesman for the service, Umar Abubakar, disclosed that the federal government is working to evacuate the correctional centre.