The breakdown of Alau Dam that has been allegedly filled to capacity for the past one week is the cause of the ongoing outbreak of flood in Borno State.
Thousands of residents fled their homes following a devastating flood in parts of Maiduguri, Borno state capital.
The last time the dam had such a problem was in 1994, resulting in unprecedented flooding in Maiduguri when almost half of the town was flooded.
In a statement in the early hours of Tuesday by Prof. Usman Tar, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, titled “Flooding Alert for River Bank Residents “, called for immediate evacuation.
He said, “Due to the unusually high volume of water this year, we urge all the residents living along the river bank to take immediate action to protect themselves and their properties.
“The Alau Dam water has broken down another channel that is currently destroying farms and the water is heading toward the river bank.”
Tar also urged the residents of the affected areas to follow evacuation routes to ensure safe passage.
In separate statements on Tuesday, the CSOs described the situation as “very pathetic”.
The Chairman of CSOs, Lake-Chad Basin, Ahmed Shehu, said the fate of the animals that escaped from Shehu Sanda Kyarimi park, a popular zoo in Maiduguri, was yet to be determined.
“The Maiduguri bypass bridge is also filled and the bridge is already flooded. The zoo road is being flooded with water and it’s gushing to College Of Health Technology, Maiduguri, where students were already relocated to school of nursing. Also, the water is heading towards the commissioner of police junction through Damboa Road.”
“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.
“It is the same water route that displaced people are taking, the animals will take too.
“Aside from wide animals escaping from the zoo, the Christians cemetery around Amb Baba Ahmed Jidda house in Old GRA has been submerged. This poses serious public health threats. Government needs to activate emergency response.”
