Several parts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, were submerged on Wednesday following a torrential downpour that lasted more than three hours, displacing residents and crippling movement across the city.
The heavy rainfall flooded major roads and residential areas, leaving vehicles stranded and forcing residents to wade through rising waters.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited affected areas reported severe impacts in neighborhoods such as Moro-Moro, Damboa Road, Customs, Bulumkutu, Dubai near Maimalari Barracks, and the Pompomari By-pass.
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Many residents scrambled to salvage belongings from their homes and shops as floodwaters surged into buildings.
“We did not expect anything like this,” said Ibrahim Goni, a resident of Moro-Moro. “Our drainage systems are completely blocked, and water from the roads just flowed straight into our homes. Many people have lost their properties.”
In Bulumkutu, people used planks and old tyres to navigate flooded roads, attempting to avoid being swept away by the current.
Aisha Hassan, a trader, lamented the loss of her shop and goods. “It rained non-stop for over three hours. Water started entering our houses before we could pack our things. Women are crying over foodstuffs, clothing, and other items washed away,” she said.
At Pompomari By-pass—a major route linking various parts of the city—commercial vehicles and tricycles were forced to abandon the flooded road due to the high water level.
Motorists and pedestrians waded through knee-deep water, while some residents erected makeshift barricades in an attempt to redirect the flood away from their homes.
Mr. Sirajo Aliyu, Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said the agency is working closely with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the military, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (BOSEMA) to assess the extent of the damage.
“We have received reports from several flashpoints across Maiduguri, and we have already mobilised response teams. We have visited some areas around Moro-Moro along Customs,” he said.
Aliyu added that the team was currently at Alau Dam to assess the water level, while the State Committee on the Prevention of Flood had begun preliminary checks in other affected locations.
