Some parts of Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State, on Wednesday were submerged after a heavy downpour that lasted for more than three hours, leaving many families homeless.

The situation has already crippled vehicular movement in many areas due to flooding.

The worst-hit areas include Moro-Moro, Damboa Road, Customs, Bulumkutu, Dubai along Maimalari Barracks, and Pompomari By-pass.

The residents were seen struggling to salvage their belongings as floodwaters took over the streets and flowed into houses, leaving behind scenes of destruction.

Ibrahim Goni, a resident of Moro-Moro said, “We did not expect anything like this. Our drainage systems are completely blocked, and water from the roads just flowed straight into our homes. Many people have lost their property.’’

In the Bulumkutu axis, residents used planks and tyres to cross the flooded roads.

A trader, Aisha Hassan, said that her shop was submerged, with most of her goods destroyed.

She said, “It rained nonstop for over three hours. Water started entering our houses before we could pack our things. Women are crying because of their foodstuffs, clothing and other items that were washed away.’’

At the Pompomari By-pass, a major road linking several communities in the city, commercial vehicles and tricycles were forced to abandon the route due to the high level of water.

Motorists and pedestrians were seen wading through knee-deep water while some residents created barricades to redirect the floodwaters away from their homes.

In his reaction, the Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sirajo Aliyu, said the agency was working in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), military police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (BOSEMA), and other relevant agencies to assess the damage in the affected communities.

He said the State Committee on the Prevention of Flood had been notified and had so far carried out initial assessments in the affected locations.

“We have received reports from several flashpoints across Maiduguri, and we have already mobilised response teams. We have visited some areas around Moro-Moro along Customs,” Mr Sirajo said.

He said that his team was currently at Alau Dam, assessing the level of water at the dam.

(NAN)