The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), military, the Red Cross and other organisations, Thursday, intensified rescue operations as many residents remained trapped or are missing, two days after the flood in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
Following the collapse of Alau Dam, floodwater took over virtually the capital city, leaving people with a tale of woes following loss of lives and properties of immense proportion.
Giving an update in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the North East Acting Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Sirajo Garba, said dozens of other people who were trapped in their homes were rescued Thursday.
“We have deployed high suspension vehicles and boats and the military are working on a search and rescue operation particularly in wards like Abbaganaram, Muna, and 505 estate. On our side as NEMA, we rescued about 200 people between yesterday and today.
”On the day of incident, over 1,000 people were rescued, while over 70,000 have been profiled in seven camps.”
On the number of casualties, Garba said:”the number cannot be ascertained now”, adding that so far NEMA has issued four body bags.
“As the water continues to recede, we may find more bodies,” Garba said.
National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, Ministers of Water Resources, Interior, Agriculture, and some members of the National Assembly, were some of the early sympathisers.
Also, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri donated N50million during the visit, while Chairman House of Representatives Committee on FCT Muktar Betara (APC-Borno) donated N100million.
…Uncaged wild animals
Also expressing some concerns over the wild animals that ran out of the zoo, an elder and resident of Bulumkutu Abuja area of the city, Baba Musa Adam Kaka, called on the authorities to find a solution to the loose animals to save residents from dnager.
He told this newspaper that “the issue of animals and reptiles especially, snakes and lions that escaped from the Zoo or were washed away from the museum and seen floating in the water in some places like on the BRTV bridge, Gwange Bridge, and few places like Post Office and State Secretariat areas are dangerous and harmful.
“They pose great danger to the people. Residents in some places live in fear of attack by these animals and reptiles. Our children are seen daily in this water or flood. Some even bathing while others just swim or enter for fancy could be attacked and even lose their lives.”
“I call in government as a matter of urgency in their rescue mission to also do something about these missing animals by embarking in awareness campaign and sensitization or orientation round the neighborhoods to stop children from playing with fire and inside the water in the streets or in neighborhoods.
“They could even hide in structures or buildings or people’s houses and be dangerous or harmful to residents whenever they return to their domains. Let BOSEOA and Ministry of Environment or Agriculture spread insecticides, pesticides and anything that could kill the reptiles. While the animals should be on the search before they commit more harm to the people,” Bakaka pleaded.
Blueprint’s findings further revealed that places like Kasuwan Shanu, Gamboru Custom market, down to Old Maiduguri, Abbaganaram, Galadiman, Shehu of Borno’s Palace, State Assembly, Chief Imam of Borno’s house, down to Budum Baluabulin Gwange Bridge areas, still remained inaccessible.
On causalities, it was gathered that corpses were being picked up by good Samaritans and neighbors for burial.
Some residents said they relocated quickly in line with the early warning signals from government authorities, while a couple of others refused.
However, those who refused, said one of them, were caught up in the flood, and struggled with their family members as well a few luggages even as others completely abandoned their personal effects and ran for their dear lives.
Some are presently taking refuge in the IDPs’ camps which incidentally was spared by the flood.
Above all, the flood has paralysed the socio-economic activities of the city as shops, offices, business premises, complexes, schools, markets, hotels and restaurants were either flooded or shut down.
The few available access roads have been turned one way linking few places like Baga road market , Westend and Tashan Kano , Pompomari, Bulumkutu, Gomari, Dala stadium axis at the city outskirts, causing human and vehicular traffic.
…Govs’ forum visits
Meanwhile, members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), led by its Chairman and governor of Kwara state , Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, arrived Maiduguri Thursday to commiserate with Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Government and people of the state.
At the Council Chamber of the Government House Maiduguri, they prayed for the repose of the souls of those who that lost their lives during the disaster and return of normalcy as well peace to the state.
They also called for humanitarian intervention to save the people further agony caused by the disaster.
Welcoming the team, Governor Zulum expressed his deepest appreciation for their visit and show of concern while also praying God to reward them abundantly for their concern and prayers.
He later took the governors round on an assessment visit of the havoc wreaked by the flood.
Apart from AbulRazaq of Kwara state, others in the NGF team were Governor Fintiri, Lagos state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lucky Ayedatiwa of Ondo, and Yobe state Governor Mai Mala Buni.
… 36 killed, 15,755 displaced in Jigawa – Governor
In a related development, the Jigawa state government Wednesday distributed food and non-food items to 15,755 persons displaced by flood in 17 local government areas of the state.
Governor Umar Namadi stated this during the inauguration of the relief items distribution exercise in Kiyawa, headquarters of Kiyawa local government area of the state.
He said the state government, in collaboration with the federal government, development organisations and philanthropists would continue to support victims of the disaster.
The governor also condoled with families of the 36 persons who lost their lives and those who lost their houses and farmlands to the disaster.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Auwal Dalladi-Sankara, said the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), promptly responded to the disaster.
He said: “We also provided second relief materials, and today we are giving other relief materials to the victims living at various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.”
The commissioner assured that the agency would further provide support to the affected persons using the comprehensive register compiled in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), during the flood impact assessment exercise.
On the figure, Executive Secretary of SEMA, Haruna Mairiga, said the disaster affected more than 50,000 households and 15,755 of them were staying in 12 IDP camps across the state.
He said 1,200 displaced persons in Buji and 3,200 others in Kiyawa benefitted from the gesture, adding that the exercise would be extended to the remaining IDPs in camps.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that each of the beneficiaries received a 10kg bag of rice, 10kg bag of millet,10kg bag of maize, one carton of pasta and a token of N20,000.
…15 killed, 3, 000 displaced in Katsina
Also, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the recent flooding in Katsina State.
The Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) reported that 15 people died, 3,000 were displaced, and 21,481 were injured due to the flooding from August to early September.
A total of 32,542 houses were damaged in 32 local government areas, with Dutsinma, Daura, Kaita, Katsina, and Batagarawa being the most severely affected.
In his message of sympathy, Abbas expressed sadness over the devastating flooding in various parts of the country and emphasized the need for concerted efforts to mitigate its effects.
He urged residents and communities to heed the advisories issued by relevant authorities regarding flooding to prevent further loss of life and property.
Speaker Abbas extended his sympathies to the families of those impacted by the flooding in other parts of the country, expressing his solidarity with those affected.
He called on NEMA to intensify its efforts at providing relief materials to the affected persons, ensuring they receive the necessary support.
He underscored the need for collective action to address the challenges posed by flooding and provide support to those affected by natural disasters.