Homes and roads in Maiduguri, Borno state, have been submerged after the Alau Dam overflowed, causing severe flooding. Many residents have fled their homes as the dam, which had been full for a week, reportedly collapsed early Tuesday morning.
The hardest-hit areas include Fori, Galtimari, Gwange, and Bulabulin. Videos circulating on social media show floodwaters rushing through streets, forcing people to seek higher ground. Wild animals such as snakes, crocodiles, and ostriches were also swept out of their enclosures at the state zoo and into the streets.
In a statement on Tuesday, Usman Tar, the state commissioner for information and internal security, issued a warning, urging those living near the riverbanks to evacuate immediately and follow safe routes. He noted that the water from the dam had opened a new channel, damaging farms and moving toward the riverbanks.
This marks the first major dam collapse in Maiduguri since 1994, which caused widespread flooding, submerging nearly half the town.
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