Torrential rainfall unleashed chaos across Maiduguri yesterday as raging floodwaters collapsed eight buildings and turned major thoroughfares into raging rivers, forcing residents to flee for their lives. The disaster, which struck without warning during early morning hours, has left entire neighborhoods underwater and exposed critical flaws in the city’s drainage infrastructure.
Eyewitnesses in the hardest-hit areas of Polo, Gwange, and London Ciki described scenes of utter devastation as buildings crumbled like sandcastles when their foundations gave way. Vehicles were seen floating down streets that had become raging waterways, while desperate families escaped through windows as water levels rose to chest height. “I lost everything – my shop, my home, all submerged in minutes,” said distraught resident Aisha Mohammed while clutching salvaged belongings at a makeshift relief camp.
Emergency responders including NEMA disaster teams, Borno SEMA personnel, the 45th Army Engineering Brigade and civilian volunteers worked round-the-clock to evacuate victims. Official reports indicate 217 persons have been displaced, with three emergency shelters established to accommodate them. Relief materials including food and medical supplies are being distributed to affected families.
Governor Babagana Zulum, who conducted an aerial survey of the damage, announced a N500 million relief fund and immediate commencement of drainage clearance operations. “These floods confirm our worst fears about climate change impacts on our urban centers,” stated NEMA DG Mustapha Ahmed during a press briefing in Abuja. Experts attribute the severity of flooding to three days of continuous rainfall – the heaviest in a decade – combined with clogged drainage channels last cleared in 2022 and numerous unapproved buildings obstructing natural water pathways.
With the IMD predicting more heavy rains through the weekend, Red Cross officials are deploying additional response teams while UN-OCHA begins assessments of humanitarian needs. The disaster marks the third major flooding incident in Maiduguri since 2023, raising urgent questions about the city’s preparedness for extreme weather events.
