Residents of Maiduguri in Borno are on high alert as a flood has submerged many homes following the alleged breakdown of the Alau Dam which has reportedly filled for the past week.
A statement on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, by Usman Tar, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, titled “Flooding Alert for River Bank Residents”, called for an immediate evacuation of residents.
Mr Tar 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.”
He also urged the residents of the affected areas to follow evacuation routes to ensure safe passage.
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.