Residents of Maiduguri, displaced by flooding from the Alau Dam, are starting to return to their homes as the floodwaters gradually recede. Many of the flood victims, who had been sleeping outside, expressed concerns about the damage to their properties and the need to assess their losses.
“We are rushing back to see what is left of our homes and salvage any items we can still use,” said Ali Bana from Gwange ward.
However, not all residents are able to return. Musa Abdullahi from Gomari ward reported that his house remains flooded. “From the look of things, we still have more days to spend outside before we can move back in,” he noted.
A report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) revealed that the floods have affected over 239,000 people. Some of those affected have been forced to relocate to the Muna IDP camp, which was already housing more than 50,000 displaced individuals.
Government authorities have evacuated residents from high-risk areas to safer locations. The floods have also caused disruptions in communication, power, and water supply in parts of the town.
