Many residents have fled their homes following a devastating flood in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.
The Alau Dam, which has been at full capacity for the past week, reportedly collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday.
The areas most affected include Fori, Galtimari, Gwange, and Bulabulin.
Several videos on social media show floods sweeping through streets, forcing many residents to desert their homes for higher plains.
Wild animals, including snakes, crocodiles and ostriches, were flooded out of their enclosures at the state zoo and into the streets.
In a statement on Tuesday, the state commissioner for information and internal security, Usman Tar, issued a flooding alert, urging the immediate evacuation of those living along the riverbanks.
Tar also urged residents of the affected areas to follow evacuation routes to ensure safe passage.
“Due to the unusually high volume of water this year, we urge all the residents living along the riverbank to take immediate action to protect themselves and their properties,” he said.
“The Alau Dam water has broken down another channel that is currently destroying farms and the water is heading toward the river bank.”
According to reports, the last time the dam experienced a similar issue was in 1994, leading to severe flooding that submerged nearly half of Maiduguri.
The disaster has left hundreds of families sleeping outdoors, with many seen scrambling to salvage whatever belongings they could. Entire neighborhoods along the riverbanks have been affected, with most residents unable to access their homes.
