Floods in northern Nigeria have resulted in the deaths of over 80 percent of animals at a large zoo, which houses a diverse range of wildlife including lions, crocodiles, buffaloes, and ostriches, according to a statement released by the facility on Tuesday.
The Sanda Kyarimi Park Zoo warned that "some deadly animals have been washed away into our communities, such as crocodiles and snakes," urging residents to take necessary precautions. The flooding was triggered by the overflow of a dam following heavy rainfall, displacing thousands of people.
The disaster has also impacted other facilities in the state capital, Maiduguri, including the post office and a teaching hospital. The office of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has advised people to evacuate the most severely affected areas.
In a statement, President Tinubu expressed his deep condolences to the government and people of the state, particularly to those who have lost their livelihoods due to the disaster caused by the overflow of the Alau Dam. He also assured that humanitarian needs would be addressed.
The floods in the northeast region have already claimed at least 49 lives last month, while a similar flood in 2022 resulted in more than 600 deaths. Borno state, the birthplace of the Boko Haram insurgency, is already struggling with a 15-year-long conflict that has led to numerous deaths and displacements.
