By Yakubu Uba
THE NATIONAL Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the military and other organisations have intensified rescue operations as many residents remained trapped or are missing, two days after the flood in Maiduguri.
The North East Acting Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Sirajo Garba, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Thursday.
He said that dozens of other people who were trapped in their homes were rescued on Thursday.
“We have deployed high suspension vehicles and boats and the military are working on a search and rescue operation particularly in wards like Abbaganaram, Muna, and 505 estate.
“On our side as NEMA, we rescued about 200 people between yesterday and today.
“On the day of incident, over 1,000 people were rescued, while over 70,000 have been profiled in seven camps.”
On the number of casualties, Garba said: “the number cannot be ascertained now”, adding that so far NEMA has issued four body bags.
“As the water continues to recede, we may find more bodies,” Garba said.
Meanwhile, members of Nigeria Governors Forum led by its Chairman and Governor of Kwara, Alhaji Abdultahman Abdulrazak, arrived in Maiduguri to commiserate with the Government and people of the state.
Others who visited are the National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, Ministers of Water Resources, Interior, Agriculture, and some members of the National Assembly.
NAN reports that Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri during the visit donated N50million, while Rep. Muktar Betara (APC-Borno) donated N100million. (NAN)
