Victor Ezeja
The impact of the devastating flood in Maiduguri, Borno State, continues to be felt four days after, as many people are either still trapped or missing.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the military, and other humanitarian aid organisations have intensified rescue operations to save the victims who are still trapped in different locations.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe flood which became more intense on Tuesday, was caused by the overflow of Alau Dam located along the Nagada River, which is a tributary of the larger Yedzeram River that flows into Lake Chad.
A video that trended on social media on Thursday showed people trapped in their homes and on rooftops.
The Borno State government in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency, swiftly opened and activated Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps to offer temporary accommodation to affected persons.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, the North East Acting Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Sirajo, said dozens of people trapped in their homes have been rescued and relocated to IDP camps.
He said: “We have deployed high suspension vehicles and boats, and the military is working on a search and rescue operation, particularly inwards like Abbaganaram, Muna, and 505 estates.
“On our side as NEMA, we rescued about 200 people between yesterday and today.”
Speaking at the National Emergency Coordination Forum (ECF) meeting on Thursday, Director General of NEMA, Zubaida UMar, disclosed that so far, the number of deaths caused by flood has increased to 259 in 172 local government areas across 29 states. According to her, over one million people have been affected.
She said that though there had been a prediction about floods as contained in this year’s Annual Flood Outlook, released by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the extent it occurred in Borno was not expected.
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“The current trend of flooding indicated that 29 states and 172 LGAs have been impacted by flooding, affecting 1,048,312 people, displaced 625,239 and have led to the death of 259 lives,” Umar stated in a post on her official X handle after the meeting in Abuja.
“This unfortunate and almost unexpected incident requires coordinated response, hence the call for this emergency meeting,” Umar emphasised.
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“This occurrence is not in total deviation from the predictions as contained in this year’s Annual Flood Outlook released by NIHSA, which informed that in the months of July to September, 2024, 33 States and 135 LGAs are within flood high-risk areas, while the period between October and November has 19 States and 44 LGAs.”
In an earlier report, NEMA Spokesperson, Manzo Ezekiel, said more than 30 people have died and over 400,000 displaced due to the flood in Maiduguri.
The Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Aliyu Tijani, assured that food items and other relief materials will be sent to victims of the Borno flood who are currently in IDP camps.
Tijani further stated that the Commission will also provide mental health and Psycho-social support to those traumatised by the incident.
Meanwhile, members of Nigeria Governors Forum, led by its Chairman and Governor of Kwara, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, visited Maiduguri on Thursday to commiserate with the government and people of the state.
Others who visited were the National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, Ministers of Water Resources, Interior, Agriculture, and some members of the National Assembly.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri during the visit donated N50 million, while a House of Representatives member, Muktar Betara, representing Biu/Bayo/Shani and Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency of Borno State, donated N100 million for the welfare of the flood victims.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
