Maiduguri, Borno State – A devastating flood outbreak in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, has left a trail of destruction in its wake, affecting a cemetery and a zoo, and displacing thousands of residents. The flood, which occurred on Tuesday, has been described as “very pathetic” by a Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
According to the CSOs, the flood has submerged a cemetery and a zoo, posing a serious threat to the safety of residents around the affected areas. The Chairman of CSOs, Lake-Chad Basin, Ahmed Shehu, expressed concern over the fate of the animals that escaped from the Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Park, a popular zoo in Maiduguri.
“The situation is so dire. The water flooded the zoo at midnight. Though no one can tell the situation of the animals, but definitely, they will scamper for safety and in the process cause harm to the community,” Shehu said.
He also noted that the flood has submerged the Christian cemetery around Baba Ahmed Jidda’s house in Old GRA, posing serious public health threats. Shehu urged the state government to activate emergency response mechanisms to curtail the situation.
Similarly, the Executive Director, Network of CSOs, Borno state, Bulama Abiso, described the incident as a “pressing humanitarian crisis” that has left numerous families devastated and homeless. Abiso urged CSOs and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to offer vital emergency aid, such as food, shelter, and non-food items, to the affected communities.
The flood outbreak has been described as worse than the previous flooding incident of 1994, which occurred exactly 30 years ago. The situation is dire, with thousands of residents displaced and many more affected. The CSOs have called for urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis, emphasizing the need for emergency response mechanisms to be activated.
The Borno State government has been urged to swing into action to curtail the situation, with calls for the barricading of the affected axis to ensure the safety of residents. The situation is a repeat of history, with the flood occurring in the same month of September, 30 years after the previous incident.
