MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AFP) — In a devastating natural disaster, severe flooding in Maiduguri, the northeastern Nigerian city, has caused significant destruction, resulting in the death of at least 30 people and displacing 400,000 residents. Officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provided these figures on Wednesday, following an overflow from a nearby dam that inundated the city.
Overflowing Dam Catastrophe
The flooding was triggered by a breach in the Alau Dam on the Ngadda River, located approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Maiduguri. The rupture occurred over the weekend and led to a rapid rise of water that swept away thousands of homes in the capital city of Borno state. “The death toll is 30,” stated Ezekiel Manzo, NEMA spokesperson, who described the situation as “quite frightening.”
Massive Displacement and Fears of Escalation
According to Zubaida Umar, another NEMA official, around 40% of the city has been submerged, forcing people from their homes. “From our statistics, we have 414,000 displaced people,” Umar said, expressing concern that the number could balloon to one million.
The United Nations refugee agency in Nigeria (UNHCR) highlighted the magnitude of the disaster, stating it was the worst flood the city had seen in 30 years. Maiduguri, already the epicenter of a more than decade-long jihadist insurgency, is struggling to cope with this additional humanitarian crisis.
Humanitarian and Government Response
In response to the emergency, NEMA has opened eight camps to house survivors. Temporary shelters, medical supplies, and mobile clinics dispatched from the military hospital have been set up to aid the displaced, especially since Maiduguri’s main hospital is also affected by the floodwaters. With concerns over potential water-borne diseases, clean water trucks and rescue operations utilizing canoes and fishermen are actively working to reach stranded residents.
Borno state governor Babagana Umara Zulum visited one of the displacement camps and announced that each affected household would receive 10,000 naira (approx. $6), along with the distribution of essential food and non-food items. He emphasized the necessity to rebuild and strengthen the compromised dam.
Personal Accounts of Loss and Desperation
Residents shared harrowing experiences of loss and displacement. Aisha Aliyu, now in one of the camps, said, “I never pray for even my enemy to experience such a thing.” Maryam Musa, another resident, lamented her separation from her family, saying, “I have nowhere to go. I haven’t seen any of them, even my siblings, both young and old, and I can’t reach them on the phone.”
National and International Condolences
The crisis elicited responses from Nigeria’s top leadership. Vice President Kashim Shettima, a native of Maiduguri, visited the affected areas, while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conveyed his condolences to the victims of the disaster.
Wider Impact of the Rainy Season
This tragic event in Maiduguri is part of a broader pattern of flooding since the onset of the rainy season in Nigeria, which has claimed 229 lives and displaced more than 380,000 people nationwide. According to NEMA, the floods have also ravaged at least 107,600 hectares (265,000 acres) of farmland, jeopardizing food security in Africa’s most populous nation.
Maiduguri now faces an enormous recovery challenge as emergency responses ramp up to address both immediate needs and long-term infrastructural rehabilitation.
Looking Ahead
As officials race against time to provide relief and rebuild essential services, the resilience of Maiduguri’s residents will be tested once again. The city, already grappling with the repercussions of prolonged insurgency, finds itself at the forefront of yet another humanitarian emergency.
Residents and aid organizations are urging both local and international communities to amplify support, as the region braces for the potential long-term impacts of this devastating flood.
