The Director General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Barkindo Mohammed, has confirmed that some of the agency’s officials who had gone on a rescue mission got trapped in the flood. The DG disclosed the development while speaking on the flood incident in the state on Tuesday. He noted that the incident was terrible.
He noted that some rescue mission colleagues were trapped in the flood.
Earlier, a report from the News Agency of Nigeria confirmed that the water from Alau Dam, which collapsed early Tuesday morning, had taken over some communities in the area. The water, which has continued to rise, has taken over some wards in the state as residents have continued to look for safer places to stay.
The DG noted that the agency started distributing sandbags on Tuesday to help reduce the intensity of the flood in the state capital, Maiduguri. He noted he was on a mission for a rescue mission but has found it difficult to exit with some other staff of the state agency.
Since the beginning of the incident, thousands of residents have taken to the streets as refuge areas, with no area to relocate to. Some of the residents have relocated to Tree Shades in the state capital.
One of the residents who has managed to escape with his two wives and six children explained that he has no where to go in the area. He explained that all his brothers were residing in the Bulumkutu area of the state. He disclosed that in order to cross the place, the bridge that has been taken over by water needs to be crossed.
He noted that his family would stay the night on the street and pray for the rain to decrease.
Earlier, the president of the country expressed deep concern over the incident, which has affected Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, and directed rescue efforts in the affected areas.
The president, who expressed concern over the incident, directed relevant agencies and authorities to deploy rescue initiatives to the communities immediately.
Tinubus’s statement was released by the president’s President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday.
The president further pledges the federal government’s support to the state, which has now faced the worst flood incident in years.
Some of the places affected include the post office and the Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, along with a cemetery and a zoo, as wild animals scrambled for safety.
Tinubu assured the state government of its readiness to collaborate with it in sending relief materials to the residents. The president further sympathised with the residents over the incident, which has taken over their homes and men’s livelihoods.
The president further noted that the government would mobilize resources to support the state during this difficult time, affecting many residents.
Also, the former leader of the Senate sympathised with the state’s residents over the incident and called on the government to deploy rescue efforts immediately.
The state government issued a statement on Tuesday urging all residents living along the river bank to take immediate action to protect themselves and their properties.
