Flood ravages Maiduguri, displaces thousands

 Many residents of Maiduguri in Borno have been displaced by flood following the collapse of water channels at the Alau Dam, newsmen reports.

The flood submerged residential quarters, roads and bridges, making many areas in the metropolis inaccessible.

Newsmen, who went round the metropolis, reports that the flood submerged strategic areas including parts of the Shehu of Borno Palace, Maiduguri Central Market and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

Other areas badly hit included the GRA, Maiduguri Zoo, College of Nursing, College of Agriculture and School of Health Technology, among others.

Many residents were seen evacuating basic items to areas considered relatively safer, with some youths erecting sandbags to prevent water from entering their quarters. 

The state government is yet to issue official figures of casualities, but it has ordered the closure of public and private schools for two weeks.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, has advised residents to follow evacuation routes to ensure safety.