In the aftermath of the devastating floods in Maiduguri, Borno State, displaced victims at the Bakkasi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp have expressed deep concerns about their safety and well-being.
The victims, whose homes were destroyed by the flood, allege that members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) tasked with providing security at the camp are involved in the abuse of women and the theft of food supplies meant for the flood victims.
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Speaking to an Arise Television correspondent, several victims, who communicated in Hausa, claimed that some of the JTF members were raping women in the camp and distributing the food meant for victims to their friends and girlfriends.
“Our greatest need is food, we are hungry. Yesterday, two people died in a stampede while struggling to collect food,” one of the victims said.
The flood, which caused widespread destruction, affected several areas, including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, where patients had to be relocated to higher floors as the lower levels were submerged.
Medical equipment worth hundreds of millions was also damaged.
In response to the disaster, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has been providing food and financial aid to the victims.
However, the situation has been exacerbated by the influx of residents who were not affected by the flood but have found their way into the camp to take advantage of the relief supplies.
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At the Bakkasi Camp, where around 10,000 flood victims were initially registered, the number of people has surged due to the presence of these impostors.
Mallam Yahaya Usman Abba, a genuine victim from Abbaganaram, revealed that he saw his friend, a resident of Dala, which was not impacted by the flood, at the camp pretending to be a flood victim in order to receive palliatives.
He noted that many individuals who were unaffected by the flood have taken advantage of the situation to collect relief items meant for the actual victims.
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Meanwhile, street begging has reportedly increased in several parts of Maiduguri, with beggars disguising themselves as flood victims to solicit alms from the public.
Addressing concerns about the cause of the flood, the Federal Government clarified that the flood was not due to a collapse of the Alau Dam, as initially speculated.
Instead, the flood was caused by an overflow of the Ngadda River, a major tributary of the River Yedzaram.
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The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Joseph Utsev, made the clarification during a press briefing, stating that the excessive rainfall, worsened by climate change, led to the river’s overflow and the subsequent flooding.
Engr Utsev assured that the Alau Dam would undergo a comprehensive upgrade, and any poor performance by contractors or officials would be dealt with.
He also announced plans to provide sanitation kits and water treatment facilities for the displaced persons as part of immediate intervention efforts.
The minister also warned of potential serious flooding in the Niger Delta and other southern regions of the country, urging authorities and residents to activate emergency measures to mitigate the possible impact.
