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Borno Flood: Wild animals flee, water submerges cemetery (pictures, videos)

September 10, 2024

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Borno Flood: Wild animals flee, water submerges cemetery (pictures, videos)

The recent flood outbreak in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, has impacted at least one cemetery and a zoo, according to a Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

The CSOs have raised concerns about the safety of residents living near the submerged areas.

It was reported that thousands of residents fled their homes following a devastating flood in parts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

In separate statements on Tuesday, the CSOs described the situation as “very pathetic.”

Ahmed Shehu, Chairman of the CSOs Lake-Chad Basin, stated that the fate of the animals that escaped from Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Park, a popular zoo in Maiduguri, remains undetermined.

“The Maiduguri bypass bridge is filled and already flooded. Zoo Road is also being inundated with water, which is flowing toward the College of Health Technology, Maiduguri, where students have been relocated to the School of Nursing. Additionally, the water is moving toward the Commissioner of Police Junction via Damboa Road.

“The situation is dire. The zoo was flooded at midnight, and while the exact condition of the animals is unknown, they are likely to scatter in search of safety, potentially posing a risk to the community.

“Animals are using the same routes as displaced people, which compounds the issue.

“Besides the wild animals escaping from the zoo, the Christian cemetery near Amb Baba Ahmed Jidda’s house in Old GRA has also been submerged, posing serious public health threats. The government needs to implement an emergency response.

“Shehu urged the state government to take immediate action to address the situation. ‘The government should barricade the affected areas to protect citizens from wild animals,’ he said. ‘The situation is beyond imagination and requires an urgent activation of emergency response mechanisms by all stakeholders. This is a time for prayers and support for Maiduguri residents.’

Similarly, Bulama Abiso, Executive Director of the Network of CSOs, Borno State, noted that the incident has left many families devastated and homeless.”

Abiso urged CSOs and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to offer vital emergency aid, such as food, shelter, and non-food items, to the affected communities

He said: “In light of this pressing humanitarian crisis, the Network of Civil Society Organizations Borno State is calling on all CSOs and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) under its wing to extend their assistance to the affected communities.

“As we rally to address this emergency, it is crucial to adhere to the core principles of humanitarian response, including humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

“Our focus should be on safeguarding the well-being and dignity of those affected, providing aid based on genuine need, ensuring fair and unbiased distribution of assistance, and maintaining autonomy in our decision-making and actions.”

He continued: “We encourage efforts to aid in the evacuation and relocation of displaced persons, provide essential psychosocial support and counseling services, and collaborate closely with government and partners as well as other stakeholders, to ensure a united and effective response.

“Let us stand together to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to the people of Maiduguri, upholding the fundamental values of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence in our response.

“Through collective action, we can truly make a positive impact and provide crucial support to those grappling with the aftermath of the floods.”

It was also gathered that the situation is so dire and it is said to be worse than the previous flooding incident of 1994, exactly 30 years ago, thereby making history to repeat itself in the month of September.

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