Borno flood: Traders count losses

Monday market is among the places submerged by flood that ravaged major parts of Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, on Tuesday.

This followed the collapse of the dyke of Alau dam, which is about 10 kilometers away from the state capital.

Residents of Post Office area, Gwange, Moromoro, Customs bridge, Zoo, Bulabullin, Maidoki  roundabout, University of Maiduguri, Saint Patrick’s church, among others are all affected.

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The situation, which left hundreds of thousand people displaced, also took over the Kyarimi Zoo, where the safety of hundred of wildlife is unknown.

“We just ferried out of the zoo area for fear of being attack by the escaping wildlife in the zoo.”

“All the shops around the popular Monday market and post office have been submerged by the flood,” owner of shop attached to the Zoo, said.

Our correspondent who went round the metropolis, also met traders in the popular market counting losses running into hundreds of millions.

Some of the traders interviewed expressed deep distress and uncertainty about recovering from the loss.

One of the sugar and flour dealers in the market, Muhammad Bulama, said the whole market has been submerged.

“Our shops opposite late Alhaji Mai sugar were all submerged. Sugar, flour, rice and condiments worth millions of naira have been submerged.”

“Just pray for us, all the bagged products like sugar, salt, rice, spaghetti and others had melted,” he said.

Our correspondent also observed that the volume of water kept increasing, submerging more areas as at the time of filing this report.

Borno State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has advised residents to avoid flooding routes and stay in safer locations.

“Following the devastating effect of flooding, citizens are advised to avoid flooding routes and stay in safer areas as Police and other relevant government agencies are doing everything possible to ensure safety of lives and property” Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso said in a statement.