The palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai Elkenemi, along with several parts of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, was submerged by a flood in the early hours of Tuesday.
According to local sources, the Shehu has vacated his palace and is currently taking refuge at the Government House due to the severe flooding. A resident from the Kofar Shehu area expressed shock at the situation, saying, “This is shocking! I have never witnessed anything like this. Even the Shehu had to leave for the Government House.”
Our correspondent in Maiduguri reported that areas worst affected by the flood include Lagos Street, Modugari, the Post Office, and Gwange. Residents are struggling to safeguard their belongings and ensure their safety amidst the rising waters.
One of the affected residents, Usman Babagana, revealed that although there were early warnings about potential flooding, many residents did not act as they had nowhere else to go. He explained, “We were warned the flood was coming, but I never expected it to be this bad. We didn’t take it seriously because we had no other options.”
A pedestrian, Buba Jibril, who was stranded near the Post Office, shared his experience, stating, “This is the worst flooding I have seen since living in Maiduguri. I fear it may lead to severe hardship for many.”
Local authorities are yet to issue an official statement, but efforts to address the situation are ongoing as residents brace for more potential rainfall.
