Reports say, the dam, which had been at full capacity for the past weeks, eventually crashed giving way to torrents of water, which flooded the city, impacting several neighborhoods, including Fori, Galtimari, Gwange, and Bulabulin, where residents had to flee, to seek refuge on higher ground as the waters rise.
Images showed streets submerged, with many fleeing to escape the deluge, some clasping at household items as the fled the situation, said to have been exacerbated by the release of wild animals from the state zoo, like snakes, crocodiles, and ostriches, also struggling to survive after being swept out of their habitats.
Usman Tar, the State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, who issued a flood alert on Tuesday, advising immediate evacuation for those living along riverbanks, emphasised the urgency of the situation, urging residents to follow designated evacuation routes for their safety.“
"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 breached another channel, causing further destruction to farms and threatening to inundate additional areas.”
The current flood crisis recalls a similar disaster in 1994 when the Alau Dam collapse led to widespread devastation, with nearly half of Maiduguri submerged.
The ongoing situation remains critical, with emergency services and local authorities working to manage the impact and provide aid to those affected.
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