A prolonged rainfall on Wednesday morning caused significant destruction in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, resulting in the collapse of eight buildings and displacing several residents.
The rain, which began around 6:15 a.m., continued for about three hours, flooding low-lying areas including Bulumkutu, Abuja, Moduganari, Ngomari, and other riverbank communities.
One of the affected residents, Ahmodu Ibrahim, shared his experience, saying, “I started seeing water coming in after an hour of the rain. I immediately took my children and wife to a safe area.”
Another victim, Aisha Suraju, who owns a provision store, reported extensive damage to her goods.
“My provisions, especially the ones on the floor, were all destroyed by the flood,” she said.
In response, the Borno State Police Command confirmed the collapse of eight buildings due to the flood and has deployed officers to support rescue efforts and maintain order.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, released a statement that read, “In the wake of the heavy rainfall that affected parts of Maiduguri, Gomari, Bulumkutu, Jidari, ITE and others, the Borno State Police Command has swiftly carried out on-the-scene assessments and deployed patrol teams across the impacted areas.
“Unfortunately, eight buildings collapsed, but no casualties were recorded.
“To forestall any breakdown of law and order, the command has stationed officers at strategic locations to protect evacuated homes and properties from potential looting or criminal activities.”
Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmaji, praised the prompt response of his officers and appealed for public cooperation.
“He also urged parents and guardians to monitor their children closely and prevent them from playing in floodwaters, as such behavior poses serious risks to their safety,” the statement added.
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