Elementary Teacher Aishatu Bunu and Kids Displaced by Devastating Floods in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Aishatu Bunu, an elementary schoolteacher based in Maiduguri, Nigeria's northeast, experienced a devastating early morning when she was awakened by her neighbors' frantic cries, signaling an impending flood. The previously peaceful neighborhood was now submerged as the waters rapidly encroached, forcing Ms. Bunu to evacuate along with her three young children.

Immediate Evacuation

In the face of rising waters, Ms. Bunu and her children hastily gathered essential items, including clothes and her educational certificates, and fled their home as the water level quickly rose to chest height. Their desperate escape led them to seek refuge at a gas station, where they “found temporary shelter” amidst the chaos this situation brought.

On a Friday, amidst the turmoil, Ms. Bunu shared her harrowing experience from the bed of a truck, a stark contrast to their former lives. After enduring several days of sheltering at various sites across the flood-stricken city, they sought refuge in a truck, marking yet another chapter in their struggle for safety.

Impact of Heavy Rainfall

The floods that engulfed Maiduguri early last week can be attributed to the heavy rainfall that caused a nearby dam to overflow. The once-thriving city now faced the grim reality of a natural disaster, displacing families, damaging property, and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.