Alau Dam, located in Borno state which has been at full capacity for the past week, collapsed on Tuesday morning.
Gatekeepers News reports that many residents in Maiduguri, the state capital fled their homes due to the devastating flood caused by the collapse of the dam which was constructed in 1984.
Areas most affected by the flood include Fori, Galtimari, Gwange, and Bulabulin.
Videos circulating on social media show floods sweeping through streets, forcing many residents to desert their homes for higher plains.
Wild animals, including snakes, crocodiles, and ostriches could be seen flooded out of their enclosures at the state zoo and into the streets.
In a statement on Tuesday, Usman Tar, the
The state commissioner for information and internal security, Usman Tar in a statement released on Tuesday, alerted the state residents and urged those living along the river banks to evacuate immediately.
The commissioner also urged residents of the affected areas to follow evacuation routes to ensure safe passage.
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.”
Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Zubaida Umar said, “In response to the unfortunate flooding situation in the Maiduguri metropolis of Borno State, which started last weekend and increased in the early hours of Monday, 9th September 2024, resulting from excess waters from the Alau Dam, we have begun the evacuation of residents of the affected communities and working on provision of food, shelter, and medical assistance.”
“One of the spillways of Alau Dam collapsed, leading to a significant increase in water flow downstream and exacerbating the flooding in surrounding areas.”
