Thousands of residents have fled their homes after flood hit Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, following the collapse of the Alau Dam.
The dam, which had been at full capacity for a week, caused severe flooding in the early hours of Tuesday, as several areas of the city, including a section of the government house and Emir’s palace were submerged.
Wild animals, including snakes, crocodiles and ostriches, were flooded out of their enclosures at the state zoo and into the streets.
The places severely affected include Fori, Galtimari, Gwange, and Bulabulin, where homes were swept away, and streets became rivers.
Videos circulating on social media show the devastating effects of the flood as residents faced with rising water levels were forced to abandon their properties for higher ground.
NewsNGR had reported how personnel of the Nigerian military on the Friday, September 6, evacuated residents from the Alau community in Konduga Local Government Area (LGA), Borno State, following the overflow of the Alau dam on Thursday, September 5.
Following the flooding, the director of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had visited the flood-affected villages to assess the extent of the damage and provide support for the displaced residents.
In response to the disaster, Usman Tar, the State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, issued an alert in a statement on Tuesday, calling for the immediate evacuation of those living along the riverbanks.
“Due to the unusually high volume of water this year, we urge all the residents living along the river bank to take immediate action to protect themselves and their properties.
“The Alau Dam water has broken down another channel that is currently destroying farms and the water is heading toward the river bank,” Tar said, emphasizing the need to follow evacuation routes to ensure safety.
Residents were urged to remain vigilant and avoid flood-prone areas as rescue and relief operations are underway.
This is the first time the Alau Dam has collapsed since 1994 when unprecedented flooding submerged nearly half of Maiduguri.