HEAVY RAINFALL COLLAPSES EIGHT BUILDINGS, DISPLACES RESIDENTS IN MAIDUGURI

Read Time:1 Minute, 23 Second

By Aishat Momoh. O.

At least eight buildings collapsed and several families were displaced following a heavy downpour that hit Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in the early hours of Wednesday.

The rainfall, which began around 6:15 a.m. and lasted for three hours, triggered flash floods that affected communities including Bulumkutu, Abuja, Moduganari, Ngomari, and other riverbank areas, forcing residents to flee their homes.

A resident of Bulumkutu, Ahmodu Ibrahim, recounted how water flooded his home, prompting him to evacuate with his family. “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.

A shop owner, Aisha Suraju, lamented the loss of her goods. “My provisions, especially the ones on the floor, were all destroyed by the flood,” she told our correspondent.

Confirming the incident, the Borno State Police Command said it had deployed personnel for emergency response operations and protection of affected areas.

“In the wake of the heavy rainfall that affected parts of Maiduguri Gomari, Bulumkutu, Jidari, ITE, and others the command has swiftly carried out on-the-scene assessments and deployed patrol teams across the impacted areas,” said ASP Nahum Daso, the command’s spokesperson.

He noted that while eight buildings collapsed, no casualties were recorded. To prevent looting, officers have been stationed at vulnerable locations.

The Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmaji, commended the prompt intervention of police officers and urged residents to remain calm. He also cautioned parents to keep children away from floodwaters due to the danger involved.

Emergency agencies are expected to begin further damage assessments and relief coordination in the affected areas.