In the early hours of Tuesday, September 10, heavy flooding submerged the Palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai Elkanemi, and other areas of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
The severe downpour forced the monarch to vacate his palace and seek refuge at the Government House.
A resident of Kofar Shehu expressed disbelief and shared his shock at the unprecedented event: “This is shocking! I have never witnessed this before. Even Shehu has left his palace for the Government House.”
The areas hardest hit by the flooding include Lagos Street, Modugari, the Post Office, and Gwange. Many residents are scrambling to rescue their belongings, and the floodwaters threaten lives and property.
Usman Babagana, one of the displaced victims, revealed that there had been warnings about the impending flood, but many residents felt helpless.
“We were told the flood is coming. I never expected it this way. We didn’t take it much seriously because we had nowhere to go,” Babagana stated.
Buba Jibril, a pedestrian stranded by the flood near the Post Office, described the situation as the worst he had seen.
“This is the worst of it all I have witnessed since my stay in Maiduguri. I really hope that this will not lead to untold hardship.”
As the floodwaters rise, residents await further developments and potential relief efforts.