At least 30 people have died and 400,000 have been forced from their homes after severe flooding hit the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, officials said Wednesday, September 11.
The flooding, caused by an overflowing dam, has left thousands of residents stranded and without access to basic necessities like food and water.
“The situation in Maiduguri is quite frightening,” said Zubaida Umar, a spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). “The flood has taken over around 40 percent of the entire city. People have been forced out of their homes and are scattered everywhere.”
Residents are struggling to cope with the disaster, with many still searching for loved ones and appealing for help. “I never pray for even my enemy to experience such a thing,” said Aisha Aliyu, a survivor who had made it to one of eight camps opened by NEMA. “I have nowhere to go,” said Maryam Musa, a resident who had lost track of her relatives. “I haven’t seen any of them, even my siblings, both young and old, and I can’t reach them on the phone.”
Authorities have deployed emergency services, including canoes and fishermen, to rescue trapped residents and provide aid. “We have provided canoes and fishermen who have been going into flooded communities and rescuing residents who are trapped,” said Umar. “We have deployed our water trucks to provide clean water because we are concerned about the possible outbreak of water-borne diseases.”
Borno state governor Babagana Umara Zulum has announced plans to rebuild and strengthen the dam, as well as provide financial assistance to affected households. Each household will receive 10,000 naira (approximately $6), and food and non-food aid will be distributed.
The disaster is part of a larger crisis affecting Nigeria, where torrential rains have killed 229 people and displaced over 380,000 since the start of the rainy season. At least 107,600 hectares (265,000 acres) of farmland have also been damaged by the torrential rains.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, a native of Maiduguri, visited the affected area on Tuesday, while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu offered condolences to those affected.
