Mr Barkindo Mohammed, the Director General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has described the situation in flooded Maiduguri town as “terrible.” Water from Alau Dam, which collapsed early Tuesday morning, has continued to submerge various wards in the town while thousands of displaced residents are scouting for safer places. Mohammed said on Wednesday in Maiduguri that the agency had since commenced rescue operations and distribution of sandbags.
“Just now, we went for a rescue and proceeded to distribute sandbags in Gozari. As I am talking to you now I am trapped; we came to rescue some people and we are now trapped with my staff,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people are in the streets with nowhere to go while some could be seen lying or sitting under tree shades with their families. Musa Abbas, with a family of two women and six children, said he had nowhere to go as his brothers were residing in the Bulumkutu area that needed one to cross the bridge.
“The bridge is now submerged; I can’t cross and my brothers can only come for me. We will sleep here and continue to pray the rain won’t come,” Abbas said.
Maiduguri flood: SEMA establishes 2 emergency relief centres
Meanwhile, the Borno Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has opened two relief camps to cater for thousands of people displaced by flood in Maiduguri following Alau Dam overflow. Director-General of the agency, Mr Barkindo Mohammed, disclosed this in Maiduguri on Tuesday. He said the two camps – Bakassi and Dalori – situated along Bama road, had the capacity to contain over 10,000 families. While describing the flood as an act of God Almighty, the D-G urged the residents to accept it “as a pre-destined event that nobody has the power to prevent it or question why”.
Similarly, the State Government Committee on Flood under the coordination of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Bukar Tijjani, has continued to focus on evacuation and provision of relief materials.
Meanwhile, the Borno Network of Civil Society Organisations (NECSOB), has appealed for urgent assistance from all across Nigeria in support of the flood victims. The Executive Director of the network, Mr Bulama Abiso, said the victims were in dire need of support to cushion the effects of the traumatised situation.
“A devastating flood has struck Maiduguri, leaving thousands of people homeless, without food, water, or shelter. The situation is dire, and we urgently need your assistance to provide relief to the affected communities,” Abiso pleaded.
He said such support could be in the form of food and non-food items, medical and financial support.
Maiduguri flood most catastrophic in 3 decades – Shettima
Vice President Kashim Shettima says, despite preparations, the severity of the floods in Maiduguri is most catastrophic in over three decades in the state capital. Shettima stated this on Tuesday during an on-the-spot assessment of the ravaging floods, in Maiduguri, Borno State. He said the impacts of the floods exceeded estimation, but assured that the Federal Government would prioritise the welfare of the affected communities. President Bola Tinubu had directed Shettima to, immediately, visit Maiduguri, to assess the devastating flood in the state capital.
”The flood’s unprecedented scale has presented challenges beyond our previous experiences. The disaster serves as a sobering reminder of the increasing threats posed by climate change, not just globally, but particularly to North East regions. Nigeria’s vulnerability to flood disasters has been highlighted time and again, as witnessed during the devastating floods of 2012, 2018, and 2022.
”The factors contributing to these recurring disasters are diverse, and it is for this reason that Tinubu has developed a comprehensive roadmap to address these challenges headlong. Nonetheless, the Federal Government remains determined in its commitment,” he said.
Shettima said, as with other states facing similar crises, the government is resolute in mobilising all necessary resources to ensure the safety and support of affected persons. Shettima, who commiserated with victims of the flood disaster, expressed the deepest sympathies of Tinubu to the victims.
”I am deeply devastated by the flood that has engulfed Maiduguri and its environs. My heart goes out to the families who have tragically lost their homes and livelihoods in this calamity. Our grief is shared, but so is our resolve to offer support and comfort as you begin to recover from this disaster. Now, more than ever, we are compelled as a nation to come together to overcome the losses suffered, and we are committed to finding lasting solutions to this recurring issue,” he said.
The vice president added: “The flood, which began over the weekend and worsened in the following days, was the direct result of excess water from the Alau Dam.
”The collapse of the spillways unleashed a significant surge of water downstream, causing widespread flooding in the surrounding communities. As we speak, efforts are ongoing to evacuate and resettle residents in the affected areas, while ensuring the provision of food, shelter, and medical assistance until the situation stabilises”.
Shettima said in response to the 2024 flood Outlook, government had implemented comprehensive contingency plans and adopted proactive measures to mitigate potential impacts. According to him, the government intensified its interventions in flood-prone areas characterised by erratic rainfall patterns and complex river basin dynamics.
He said the areas had been prioritised in flood mitigation strategies to safeguard communities, protect agricultural zones, and reinforce critical infrastructure. He commended the government of Borno State for its swift and effective response to this tragic situation.
”I also want to acknowledge the remarkable resilience of the good people of Maiduguri and surrounding areas, who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion by being their neighbours’ keepers. I am in Maiduguri to oversee the implementation of comprehensive flood mitigation measures.
”We will overcome this tragedy as long as our resolve remains strong, as long as we remain united, as long as we remain compassionate, and as long as we prioritise strategic actions to emerge from this even stronger than ever,” he assured.
