Alau Dam Breaks Down, Flooding Maiduguri and Forcing Evacuations
Maiduguri residents have been placed on high alert following severe flooding caused by the breakdown of the Alau Dam, which had reached its capacity over the past week. The floodwaters have submerged many homes, prompting urgent calls for evacuation.
In a statement issued early Tuesday, Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, warned residents living along the riverbank to take immediate action. The statement, titled “Flooding Alert for River Bank Residents,” highlighted the severity of the situation.
“Due to the unusually high water volume this year, we urge all residents along the riverbank to evacuate immediately to safeguard themselves and their properties,” Tar said. He further explained that the dam had broken through another channel, damaging farmlands as the water moves towards more populated areas.
The commissioner urged residents of affected zones to use designated evacuation routes to ensure safe passage.
This marks the first major failure of the Alau Dam since 1994, when unprecedented flooding submerged nearly half of Maiduguri. The situation is being closely monitored, as authorities work to mitigate the impact of the rising floodwaters.
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