Flood Sacks Many Communities in Maiduguri, Destroyed Houses, Shops Farmlands, As Alau Dam Overflown its Bank

Flood Sacks Many Communities in Maiduguri,  Destroyed Houses, Shops,1 Farmlands, As Alau Dam Overflown its Bank

By Madu Mohammed,, Maiduguri

Many communities in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital have been sacked by flood which forced hundreds of people to leave their ,houses while property worth million of Naira were destroyed as a result of flood that over flown Alau Dam in the state.

The devastating flood started in the early hours of Thursday, forced many people to leave their houses, their shops and farmlands were submashed by the flood. The flood affacted Gwange Sabon Gari, Maduganari and some parts of the Metropolis.

Mostly affected by the flood were women and children, who are often the most vulnerable in such situations. They face immense challenges, including lack of access to basic necessities like food, water, and shelter.

One of the victims, Falmata Ibrahim who spoke Daily Hint in an interview when he visited the scene on Friday said the water has taken over their houses and that she managed to bring out her 3 children but she couldn’t Carry any of her luggage..

” The whole of our houses and streets have been submashed by the flood, I couldn’t bring any of my property, I managed to come out with my 3 children with support of good Samaritan who help me to carry them in a canoe”, she added.

In a swift reaction, the Bormo State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has sent a high-powered delegation to assess the impact of water overflow at Alau Dam which is threatening Maiduguri Metropolis and its environs.

Alau Dam which has a reservoir capacity of 112 million cubic meters was designed to support irrigation activities on the Alau river bank that is now used to supply tap water in Maiduguri and Jere LGA…

The SSG assured that the state government is working with the Chad Basin Development Authority to take steps to protect Maiduguri from flooding.

“There have been a lot of worries as well as speculations that the whole Dam has broken down, but the dam has not broken down we have been to Alau Dam on behalf of His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the executive Governor of Borno State.to see that the Dam did break down”, Hon Tijjani said.

He further explained “Borno State Government is partnering very strongly with the managers of Alau Dam. We have discussed and seen what to do, but the rumour of Maiduguri being flooded is not true”.

The delegation which was led by, the Secretary to Borno State Government,, (SSG), Alhaji Bukar were received by Engr Mohammed Zannah, the acting Managing Director of Chad Basin Development Authority (CBDA) at Alau Dam on Thursday.

The delegation comprises Engr Baba Bukar Gujibawu, SA to the Governor on Monitoring and Evaluation, Engr Adam Bababe, Executive Secretary, Borno Geographic Information Service, Engr Sadu Auno, Executive Secretary, Borno State Road Maintenance Agency and the Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Mohammed Saidu Barkindo.

Briefing the SSG, Engr Zannah disclosed that despite the high water level in the river which led to overflow, the present conditions do not pose a severe threat to the city, noting that all necessary measures were put in place to control the situation.