Borno flooding: NEMA urges riverine residents to vacate houses

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned residents of riverine areas in Maiduguri to vacate their homes immediately, as flooding has wreaked havoc on over 2,000 houses and farmlands.

Speaking to Nigerian Tribune in Maiduguri on Thursday, NEMA’s Zonal Acting Coordinator for the North East Zone, Sirajo Garba Abdullahi, attributed the flooding to torrential rainfall, which necessitated the release of water from Alao Dam and Gadabul. This has left many residents stranded in Gwange, Sabon Gari, Fori Bakin Kogi, and Fariya, among others.

Abdullahi disclosed that NEMA officials, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other stakeholders, have visited the affected areas, advising residents to evacuate to avoid loss of life.

He warned that if the flooding occurs at night, it could result in loss of life and property. He urged residents in riverside areas to relocate to higher ground to safeguard lives and property.

According to predictions by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), nine local government areas in Borno State, including Maiduguri, the capital city, are expected to be severely affected by floods this year.

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Abdullahi called on community leaders to sensitize residents about the impending flood and urged both residents and relevant authorities to clear debris from water bodies to prevent blockages and the creation of detention dams.

NEMA, IOM, the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA), and other partners are working to safeguard lives and property and provide necessary sensitization to communities in the affected areas of the state.

Malam Ahmadu Chari, a resident of Gwange, recounted his ordeal, saying, “I was in my house when the flood came. I had to climb onto the roof to escape the water.”

Isa Lawal, a resident of Sabon Gari, pleaded, “We need help now. We have lost all our belongings.”

The National Emergency Management Agency has begun assessing the damage.