Borno Dam Collapse: FG Opens IDP Camps

Thousands of Maiduguri inhabitants have been displaced, with the Nigerian Correctional Service recapturing three inmates after a jailbreak, while 80 per cent of animals at the Sanda Kyarimi Park zoo died as Borno State suffered its most devastating flood disaster in 30 years.

Following the disaster, President Bola Tinubu, who’s currently abroad, called for the immediate evacuation of residents in communities overtaken by floods.

Seventy per cent of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, has been submerged by the fast-moving waters, according to the National Emergency Management Agency, while the flood also ravaged other major city locations, including the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Umar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi, the state secretariat, post office, cemetery, Lagos Area, Bulabulin, Gwange, Monday Market, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and Kofar Shehu.

“Some locations that I personally know and consider to be high ground, from the report we received, are already underwater, including Lagos Street, the market area, the palace of the Shehu of Borno, at least the front of the palace, we can see water there,” NEMA spokesman, Manzo Ezekiel, told The PUNCH.

“About 70 per cent of the town is already underwater. So, many people are trapped as the flood intensified when people were sleeping; some people woke up to discover that they were inside water.”

The NEMA spokesperson said Borno’s flat ground geology made it easier for water to flow into passage areas in Maiduguri city, adding that the flood began after the Alau Dam overflowed following heavy rains.

“The overflow of the main source of the dam in Borno State, called Alau Dam, has brought the city to be underwater since last weekend. So, our attention now and our energy are geared towards providing necessary support, by way of search and rescue, and supporting people that have been impacted. That is what we are doing now.”Manzo said NEMA could not ascertain the number of displaced people as at the time of filing this report, but estimated that with about 70 per cent of the town underwater, then about 70 per cent of the over 800,000 Maiduguri residents might have been affected.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, also conveyed the government’s sympathy to the victims of the flooding.

“The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, is acutely aware of the magnitude of the challenges posed by this disaster.

“He has since directed all the relevant ministries and agencies to collaborate with the Borno State Government in mobilising the necessary resources to provide urgent relief and assistance to those affected by the unfortunate incident,” Idris said.

The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar called on the Federal Government relief agencies to accelerate their efforts to address the impact of the Borno flooding, which he described as “catastrophic.”

“This deluge has ravaged farms and plunged a significant portion of Maiduguri into an urgent humanitarian crisis. I am also informed by available statistics from NEMA that recent floods have damaged approximately 16,488 hectares of farmland across 27 states; destroyed 32,000 houses, and impacted no less than 227,000 people.

“I earnestly implore the pertinent federal relief agencies to expedite their efforts in mitigating the effects of this calamity. My heart goes out to the people and government of Borno State government as they grapple with the profound economic repercussions of this disaster,” the former Vice President said.