Flooding: Atiku visits Borno

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has paid a sympathy visit to Borno State over the recent flood disaster.

In a post via his official X handle on Sunday alongside photos, Atiku announced his arrival in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

He wrote, “A short while ago, I arrived in Maiduguri for a sympathy visit to the people of Borno State over the recent catastrophic flooding.”

See photos of his arrival below.

The National Emergency Management Agency said the flood began after the Alau Dam overflowed following heavy rains leading to the town’s worst flooding in 30 years, according to the United Nations Human Rights Refugee Council and Maiduguri Metropolitan Council residents.

According to NEMA, more than 23,000 households have been hit by the rapid rise of waters following the weekend rupture of the Alau dam on the Ngadda River, 20km south of Maiduguri.

Reports also indicate the water had receded as of Wednesday after 70 per cent of Maiduguri was submerged by the fast-moving waters, according to NEMA, which ravaged major city locations, including the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Umar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi; the state secretariat, post office, cemetery, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

The flood also washed away 80 per cent of the animals at the Sanda Kyarimi Park Zoo and damaged houses, schools, as well as commercial and worship centres.

On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu expressed deep concerns over the flooding and tasked relevant government agencies to expedite rescue efforts.

Tinubu also called for the immediate evacuation of residents in communities overtaken by floods.

This was as Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in the Borno capital on Tuesday to conduct an on-the-ground assessment of the devastating floods.