A heavy downpour lasting over three hours on Wednesday triggered a flash flood that displaced several residents in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, forcing many to abandon their homes for safety.
Affected areas include Damboa Road, Moduganari, Ngomari, and other flood-prone communities, where rising water levels submerged homes and property. Victims, fearing further rainfall, have taken refuge with relatives and friends.
On Damboa Road, behind the popular Indimi House, a resident described the flooding as unexpected.
"Usually, we just see water pooling in certain spots when it rains. But this morning's flood caught everyone off guard. It didn’t come from a stream or river—it just overwhelmed the area," he told The PUNCH.
In Moduganari, resident Joshua Solomon pointed out a house already overtaken by floodwater.
“Look at that house—water went in. I’m sure the occupants have run off to stay with neighbours. Water is already near our own gate. This is exactly how it started last year before it got worse and pushed everyone out,” he lamented.
The Ngomari Primary Health Care Centre, which was scheduled to host the launch of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative by UNICEF and the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Board, was also affected. The programme, planned for Jere Local Government Area near the Umoru Shehu Hospital, was postponed due to the flood.
This incident comes barely ten months after catastrophic flooding in Maiduguri killed over 300 people and displaced millions. With the peak of the rainy season still ahead, residents and motorists are urging government authorities to act swiftly to prevent a repeat of last year's tragedy.
