Maiduguri Floods Force Evacuations as Buildings Crumble Under Rain

• Heavy rainfall early Wednesday triggered severe flooding in Maiduguri, displacing residents and toppling eight buildings across riverbank communities
• Emergency response teams and police swiftly mobilised to assess damage, secure affected areas, and prevent criminal activity
• Local businesses and homes suffered extensive losses, raising renewed concerns about infrastructure resilience and flood preparedness in Borno State

Heavy rainfall in the early hours of Wednesday resulted in the collapse of eight buildings and displaced dozens of residents across Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

According to reports gathered by our correspondent, the downpour began around 6:15 a.m. and persisted for three hours, severely affecting riverbank communities including Bulumkutu, Abuja, Moduganari and Ngomari.

Locals described scenes of sudden inundation, forcing many to flee their homes in haste. A resident of Bulumkutu, Ahmodu Ibrahim, recounted that water began seeping into his apartment shortly before 8 a.m. “I started seeing water coming in after an hour of the rain. I immediately took my children and wife to a safe area,” he said.

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The flooding also devastated local businesses. Shop owner, Aisha Suraju, said her merchandise was ruined. “My provisions, especially the ones on the floor, were all destroyed by the flood,” she lamented.

Police confirm building collapses amid Maiduguri flooding

In response to the incident, the Borno State Police Command announced it had mobilised officers for rescue and protection operations in affected neighbourhoods. A statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed the destruction of eight buildings and outlined the measures taken to secure lives and property.

“In the wake of the heavy rainfall that affected parts of Maiduguri, Gomari, Bulumkutu, Jidari, ITE and others, the Borno State Police Command has swiftly carried out on-the-scene assessments and deployed patrol teams across the impacted areas,” the statement read. “Unfortunately, eight buildings collapsed, but no casualties were recorded.”

To prevent potential looting or criminal activities, officers were stationed at strategic points near evacuated properties. The Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmaji, commended the swift action of his officers and urged the public to remain calm and cooperative.

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“He also urged parents and guardians to monitor their children closely and prevent them from playing in floodwaters, as such behaviour poses serious risks to their safety,” Daso added.

6 things to know about Maiduguri flooding

Legit.ng earlier reported that the recent flood in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, has been described as unprecedented by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Torrential rains caused the Alau Dam to collapse, displacing over a million people and wreaking havoc across the region.

As rescue operations continue and the city grapples with the devastation, here's what Legit.ng know so far. The Alau Dam, located about 20 kilometers from Maiduguri, gave way on Tuesday morning after heavy rainfall. The dam’s failure flooded riverine areas, major roads, schools, hospitals, and other public infrastructure, severely affecting the city. Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, attributed the flood to water released from other dams in neighboring Cameroon.

Source: Legit.ng