Heavy rainfall in the early hours of Wednesday led to the collapse of eight buildings and the displacement of several residents in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The downpour began around 6:15 a.m. and lasted for about three hours, flooding homes and displacing families in areas like Bulumkutu, Abuja, Moduganari, Ngomari, and other riverbank communities.
In response to the disaster, the Borno State Police Command said it had launched rescue operations in affected areas.
In a statement, the command’s spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed that eight buildings collapsed due to the flooding.
“In the wake of the heavy rainfall that affected parts of Maiduguri, Gomari, Bulumkutu, Jidari, ITE and others, the Borno State Police Command has swiftly carried out on-the-scene assessments and deployed patrol teams across the impacted areas.
“Unfortunately, eight buildings collapsed, but no casualties were recorded.
“To forestall any breakdown of law and order, the command has stationed officers at strategic locations to protect evacuated homes and properties from potential looting or criminal activities,” the statement read.
The command also urged parents and guardians to monitor their children closely and prevent them from playing in floodwaters, as such behavior poses serious risks to their safety.