Flood displaces over 200,000 people in Maiduguri
Aerial view of flood affected areas in Maiduguri
By Dauda Iliya
More than 200, 000 people have been displaced by severe flood in Maiduguri Metropolitan and Jere local government areas of Borno state.
The National Emergency Management Agency NEMA has placed the city on high alert following the magnitude of devastation of the flood in the last twenty four hour.
Flood has continued to ravage many parts of Maiduguri metropolis and environs.
The disaster, which began nearly a week ago due to the overflow of Alau Dam, has submerged homes and properties in Gwange, Shehuri, Adamkolo, Gamboru, Fori, Bulabulin, Maiduguri, and other areas in Jere.
Residents are seen wandering the metropolis in search of safe locations, while many are desperately trying to locate loved ones trapped in the most affected areas.
Twelve-year-old Fatima Ali has urgently appealed to the government and aid agencies for assistance, as her parents and six siblings are trapped in their home in Gwange Sabon Layi due to severe flooding.
“Out of ten members of our family, including our parents, only two of us escaped, the rest are still trapped because of the ravaging flood, we are pleading for government to use whatever means possible to rescue them”.
In response to the crisis, the Borno State government has opened the Bakasi camp to provide shelter for flood victims.
Radio Nigeria observed that National and State Emergency Management Agency officials, along with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, are actively screening the large number of individuals arriving at the camp.
Some flood victims at the camp shared their harrowing experiences.
“We left our house in Bulabulin by one in the morning, and since then we have looking for where to take refuge. Thank God the State Government has opened Bakasi camp but we are yet to get access in to the camp”.
“The flood has really devastated our area in Shehuri South, some rooms have even collapse. I have been screened at the Bakasi camp but am yet to get a room”.
Acting Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sirajo Garba, said that the agency, alongside other agencies are working diligently to rescue victims trapped in flood-affected areas.
The Zonal Coordinator urged residents in high-risk areas to move to safer locations, assuring that the government is doing everything possible to provide succor to those impacted by the disaster.
Correspondent Dauda Iliya reports that Maiduguri has not experienced such severe flooding in the past 30 years.
