SEMA rescues 3,683 residents from Borno floods

By Michael Boluwatife

The Borno State Emergency Management Agency has rescued 3,683 individuals trapped in their homes due to severe flooding in Maiduguri. 

The Director-General of SEMA, Mr. Barkindo Mohammed, stated on Friday that the rescue operation, which began on Thursday, continues with various methods including boats, canoes, military assistance, and fire service trucks.

As the floodwaters recede, SEMA is prioritizing rescue operations for those who have made distress calls and plans to continue efforts over the next few days. 

Mohammed also highlighted that the flooding, caused by the recent collapse of the Alau dam on the Ngadda River, has affected approximately two million people.

SEMA has established 14 official camps along with several informal ones for displaced persons. 

“President Bola Tinubu has supported Borno and other states with N3 billion each,” Mohammed stated. “The Gov. Babagana Zulum State has forwarded the money to SEMA, and he has added more on what the federal government gave.”

“We are not only responding to the flood victims in Maiduguri but also in Local Government Areas across the state,” Mohammed added.