A torrential rainfall lasting over three hours on Wednesday triggered a flash flood that displaced several residents in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The affected areas included parts of Damboa Road, Moduganari, and Ngomari, where many victims were forced to leave their homes and seek shelter with relatives and friends.
Local residents expressed shock at the intensity of the flooding, which they said had no apparent link to any nearby water body. “Before now, what we experienced was just minor water gathering, but this one came suddenly. It’s surprising,” one resident remarked. Another resident, Solomon, warned, “This is how it started last year before things got worse and we were all displaced.”
The Ngomari Primary Health Care centre was not spared, as floodwaters reportedly disrupted a scheduled event by UNICEF and the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Board. A government official confirmed that the launch of a maternal and neonatal health initiative had to be postponed due to the water invasion.
This incident comes just ten months after a more devastating flood swept through Maiduguri and surrounding areas, resulting in the deaths of over 300 people and leaving millions homeless. Wednesday’s event has raised fresh concerns about the city’s preparedness for seasonal flooding.
Motorists and residents are urging authorities to take swift action to mitigate the effects of the rainy season. Many are calling for improved drainage systems and emergency support to prevent a repeat of last year’s disaster.
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