Victor EzejaAs flood ravages Maiduguri in Borno State, Nigeria, many animals in the Maiduguri Zoo, popularly known as Sanda Kyarimi Zoo Park have died, while others escaped.
General Manager of the zoo, Ali Abatcha, said 80 per cent of the animals in the zoo have been killed by flood, while others escaped into the capital city.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe flood that started during the weekend, got worse on Monday as it submerged many homes, farmlands, business centres, institutions like University of Maiduguri, and other parts of the town.
There were earlier reports indicating that some wild animals like crocodile and snakes kept in the zoo have been pushed out into the city by the rampaging flood. Pictures and videos on social media show an ostrich that escaped from the zoo wandering on the streets of Maiduguri. Also, a crocodile in the zoo displaced by the flood was spotted but according to reports, it was attacked and killed by some residents apparently in fear of its dangerous nature.
The flooding, caused by the overflow of the Alau Dam following heavy rains, has affected over 239,000 people in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Areas (LGAs), according to a report by the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The UN agency warned that the devastating flood would exacerbate food and nutrition crisis in the state as farmlands have been damaged. OCHA also raised concerns about possible risk of a cholera outbreak as access to clean water and sanitation facilities has been severely disrupted.
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“The floods have forced some of the affected people to move spontaneously to the Muna IDP camp, which was already hosting over 50,000 IDPs. Government authorities have evacuated residents in high-risk riverine areas to several locations.
“Approximately 50,000 people have been evacuated to the former Bakasi IDP camp, which has been temporarily reopened and is already at full capacity. Other temporary shelters include the former Dalori IDP camp and the Asheik Jarma school in MMC. The El Miskin camp, housing approximately 7,000 IDPs, more than half of them children, has also reportedly flooded,” it stated.
The Federal Government has begun the evacuation of residents of the affected communities in the flooding. Three internally displaced persons camps in the state have been opened to accommodate the victims of the flood disaster.
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in a statement on Tuesday, said it is also working on the provision of food, shelter and medical assistance for the victims.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
