The Borno State Emergency Management Agency has rescued 3,683 people trapped in their homes after severe flooding in Maiduguri.
The Director-General of SEMA, Mr. Barkindo Mohammed, shared this information on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Maiduguri.
“As of 5 pm on Thursday, SEMA evacuated 3,683 persons from their homes in a rescue operation. The search and rescue operation is still ongoing,” Mohammed said. He explained that the rescue efforts involve various means, including motorists, boats, canoes, divers, military, and fire service trucks.
He added, “As the water continues to recede, we are concentrating on those who make distressed calls and will start search and rescue today and tomorrow.”
Mr. Mohammed noted that about two million people have been affected by the flooding, and SEMA has opened 14 official camps along with many informal camps for displaced persons. He mentioned that the Federal Government has supported the state with N3 billion and food supplies.
“President Bola Tinubu has supported Borno and other states with N3 billion each,” Mohammed stated. “The Gov. Babagana Zulum State has forwarded the money to SEMA, and he has added more on what the federal government gave.”
“We are not only responding to the flood victims in Maiduguri but also in Local Government Areas across the state,” Mohammed added.
According to NAN, the flooding was caused by the collapse of the Alau dam on the Ngadda river in Borno on Tuesday. This led to some of the worst flooding in the state, forcing many residents to flee their homes. The state government said on Wednesday that the dam was at full capacity due to unusually high rains, and officials expect the death toll to rise.
