Our reporters
Borno State residents are still grappling with the monumental impact on their lives and properties days after a devastating flood ravaged Maiduguri, the state capital.
With losses running into millions and precious lives lost, victims are appealing to the state government to ensure that the monetary donations made reach those in dire need and are not diverted.
This comes after The PUNCH reported that at least 414,000 people were displaced and another 30 killed by the rampaging flood.
In the aftermath of the flood, the Borno State Police Command confirmed the recovery of 11 decomposed bodies, highlighting the severe toll of the disaster.
In response to the crisis, the Federal Government donated N3bn to aid relief efforts, a gesture that was confirmed by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum.
Also, prominent businessman Aliko Dangote donated N1.5bn to support the flood victims.
The North East Development Commission provided both food and non-food items to alleviate the suffering of those displaced.
State governors of Kwara, Lagos, Ondo, and Adamawa states visited Maiduguri to sympathise with the governor and pledged to support the victims.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State donated N50m and six speedboats to the Borno State Government to aid affected communities.
In a statement by Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, the Director-General of Press and Media Affairs to the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, it was announced that N100m was donated to the flood victims.
Meanwhile, flood victims have called on the Borno State Government to distribute donations to them, as they are unable to manage on their own.
When our correspondent visited some areas, including Modugari, Kofar Shehu, Monday Market, and Lagos Street, where the flood had receded, victims who had gone back to check on their properties told Sunday PUNCH that they were currently stranded and do not know where to start.
Micheal Tegwolo, a landlord in Modugari, lamented the extensive damage done to his property and called on the government to urgently intervene.
He also appealed for the timely disbursement of aid, expressing concerns about the future of his family and property.
Mukhtar Ibrahim, a mobile phone charger, decried the destruction of his shop and equipment.
He said, “I left the shop on Monday around 8 pm. My generator, charging panels, contacts, and record cards have all been destroyed. Everything was soaked by water because some were on the floor, and those on the table were also covered by the flood. This is a big loss for me. I will have to start afresh. I will be glad to benefit from the donations.”
Sunday PUNCH observed that most shops were still closed in the post office area, while some not far from Monday Market, particularly in Baban-Lanye, had opened for business.
In a separate development, the Borno State Police Command says it rescued a 21-year-old pregnant woman, Dantalla, who was stranded due to the flood in the Customs area.
The Supervising Police Public Relations Officer for the Northeast, SP Ahmed Wakil, in a statement made available to our correspondent, revealed that the woman later gave birth to a baby boy at the Alkome police clinic
He also refuted a widely circulated post on social media alleging that the Police Hospital in Alkome, Muna Garage was in need of assistance.
Similarly, operatives of the Borno State Police Command imposed restrictions on a collapsed bridge on Lagos Street, Maiduguri.
Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Director of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Professor Ahmed Ahijo, has raised concerns about potential disease outbreaks in the facility due to the flood.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, seen by our correspondent on Friday, Ahijo disclosed that several expensive cancer machines and other property were submerged.
The CMD added that the hospital has been forced to suspend admitting patients to the wards due to fears of contamination and infections caused by sewage mixed with the floodwaters.
He said, “The whole of the ground floor of the hospital and the centres—we have 14 specialised centres in the hospital—are all flooded, and some of the machines there are very expensive.”
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