Survivors of the Maiduguri flood, the worst in three decades, have narrated their harrowing experiences before they were rescued.

The heavy rainfall, whichh began Monday night had ruptured the Alau Dam in the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and flooded residential areas and public buildings, including hospitals and schools.

Those taken to safety thanked God for saving their lives, but said many families are still trapped in hard to reach locations.

Our correspondents report that search and rescue teams have intensified operations at various locations as the flood waters continue to recede.

I can?t locate my wife, 5 kids ? Survivor

Goni Ba Usman, who was crying profusely sat under a tree yesterday, saying his wife and five children were still missing.

?The last time I saw my wife and the kids was on Tuesday, around 6:30am. You are giving me water, how can I drink water when I have not seen my family since the flood struck?? he told rescue workers at one of the IDP camps.

?I am finished. We went to the Babagana Wakil Camp, but we couldn?t find them. I saw some of my neighbours there but I couldn?t find my family.

?Innalillahi Wa?inna Ilaihi Rajiun, (from Allah we came and to him is our return),? he kept repeating while people continued to give him hope that his family members are alive.

?I left neighbours in dire situation?

Another victim, Abubakar Tijjani, who said he was rescued by the military, told the Daily Trust that he left behind other people in dire situation.

?As it is now, over 50 people including men, women, old and young that have been rescued are taking refuge in the house I also relocated to. The number keeps increasing as the rescue operations continue.

?With efforts of the military and others, we hope that more people would be rescued as the flood subsides.

?Right now, all the available resources with me and my family have been overstretched,? he said.

Another rescued person, Ahmed Jallo, said they left behind people in thirst and hunger.

?I never thought that I would make it alive; the water had swallowed my house,? he said.

?We couldn?t access drinking water; we broke into many shops and ate everything inside. At a point we were left with nothing to eat.

?Many people died and floated on the water with animals? carcasses for days unattended.

?I thank God for saving my life, and the people that rescued us,? he said.

He said the flood had subsided in Gwazari and Ali Goshe, but the areas are still not habitable.

Jummai, a school teacher, said her parents were only rescued from their house around Gamboru after three days.

?Gladly, our house is an upstairs, therefore, the whole family relocated to the first floor. It was after two days that they were rescued,? she said.

?I paid N100,000 for canoe operators to rescue my sheep?

A woman, who did not give her name, said her residence located at the 505 Housing Units, along Dikwa Road, said she had to pay N100,000 for canoe operators to rescue her sheep from a flooded area.

?I was able to escape with my family before the flood took over the whole area. However, even though we have relocated to safety, I continued to feel guilty because I left my animals there. I had to pay canoe operators N100,000 to go and rescue them.

?From Muna Garage where we are now to the 505 Estate is a stone throw, but look at how some people are taking advantage of our plight to make money. May the Almighty restore amity in our Borno,? she said.

?I thought I would die with my six children?

The BBC reported that Fatima Yakubu could not believe that she and her six children are still alive after the dam collapsed following the torrential rains.

The family, who live south of the city of Maiduguri near the Alau Dam, were asleep when their house began filling with water in the early hours of Tuesday.

?I woke up at 1am when I felt water on my legs,? the 26-year-old told the BBC.

?It was rising very fast, and I was so scared. I thought I was going to die with my children,? she said. She cried out in panic for help: ?Some men heard me screaming and came to rescue us. I am grateful to God.?

Along with her children she has found refuge at Bakassi Camp, one of four centres set up for the hundreds of thousands of people who have been flooded out of their homes this week.

Until last year, the camp was occupied by those who had fled Boko Haram militants, whose 15-year insurgency has caused havoc in a region where poverty is endemic.

The Borno state government had ordered schools that only recently reopened after a long holiday, to close for two weeks.

There are worries about an outbreak of waterborne diseases as most of the city?s network of sewers has collapsed, contaminating water sources.

The state governor, Babagana Zulum, had said that the floods might have affected up to a million people.

Hunger is now a major issue for those who have lost their belongings, homes and businesses.

Rescue operations ongoing

Daily Trust reports that rescue operations are still going on in Gamboru, Lagos Street, Abbaganaram, Gwange, Customs, Ferube, 505 Abbagana Terab Housing Estate and other hard to reach locations.

The Director -General, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Mohammed Barkindo, said that 3,164 persons were rescued from different locations in the city so far.

?We are trying our best to provide food and non-food items to those who are currently in the camps?, he said.

The acting Zonal Coordinator, North-East of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Surajo Garba, also said that military had deployed four speed boats to reinforce rescue operations. He said that the flood had subsided but hundreds of people were still trapped and stranded.

?We are working with SEMA, military and other stakeholders to rescue those trapped in some locations.

Also, the Executive Director, Network of Civil Society Organisations, Borno State, Comrade Bulama Abiso, lamented that the situation was overwhelming and requested that sub national governments should support the Borno State government.

?As you can see, people are trooping out from various locations and the camps they open are congested; over one million people have been displaced so far.

?We don?t have enough food and essential supplies at the camps. People are always rushing for food,? said Ms Yakubu, who is shouldering the responsibility for looking after her children as her husband is staying with his second wife.

?My kids shared just one plate of meal today. They are still hungry while I haven?t eaten,? she said. (Daily Trust)

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