My Binoculars

A feature on the reflection on 2024: Bitter Lessons from the flood in greater Maiduguri which terminated over 150 lives

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The recent flood which swept almost 200 lives off the face of the earth in Maiduguri has become a landmark of destruction which no resident in his right senses would wish for a reoccurrence. The Borno state capital Maiduguri is the home of extreme temperatures but surely that flood was not meant to cool down the city. It was a raging flow of Alau dam water which locked and killed many in their homes because it came at a very odd hour of the night when residents were asleep. Imagine waking up in your sleep by a surge of cold water touching the edge of your bed. Peeping through the window to see that both your locked doors and windows have been inundated by water waiting to take you out of this world. That was what happened to a fifteen year old boy name withheld and myriad of other vulnerable residents of greater Maiduguri.

Indeed many State capitals in the country have witnessed such deluges but not all due to unnatural factors as was in the case of the collapse of the Alau Dam which has become an albatross on the shoulders of Governor Babagana Zulum the Chief security officer of the state. I actually sympathized with Prof Zulum within my inner man when this damnation befell the city centre of Maiduguri. This is
because the man’s battle with the bloody 15 year old insurgency is far from over. And then came this tragedy with the flood raging into the low level areas of the city centre living sorry, tears and sudden death for those who could not swim out of their homes by that wee hour of the night of September 10th 2024. Most residents in parts of Konduga, Fori, Gwange, customs market and fly over, bayan quarters, Moro Moro, Aabaganaran, Shehu’s Palace area, Post office and Monday market, the State specialist hospital, zoo area, state secretariat, 505 Housing estate and many wards too numerous to explain were surrounded and killed while crying for distant help which never came. The flood suffocated the life out of some residents who took solace on their roof tops yet became submerged with their roofs caving after hours of waiting for help. Everyone was terrified about the speed which which the flood took over habitations of residents who could not escape. Those who took chances to swim could not behold the beauty of the first light of the following day. Even those who could swim lost control because the entire submerged city centre became an appendage of Lake Chad with roof tops doting about like the Tumbus islands over 300km away before that fateful 10th September 2024.

Bitter lessons and questions coming out of the raging flood water

Gentlemen, partners, there are so many lessons to learn from the recent flood which burst the sims of Alau dam and enveloped the city centre of Maiduguri. The obvious carelessness displayed by federal water engineers responsible to keep the Alau Dam stable and their inability to acknowledge that it would soon burst out of its sims was a major lesson to learn not to allow to be repeated. That the city of Maiduguri has been inundated by water once in which about 37 souls perished was also supposed to have been on the minds of the engineers as a lesson to have stuck into their brains. The very fact that the city had been laid waste before by similar angry floods was equally supposed to have propelled the resident engineers to have dived in to save the dam before the beginning of the rains but they failed. Rather they lied to the secretary to the state government Tijani Bukar who visited to ascertain the stability of the Dam and caused the government to drop its guard that all was well. That was the mother of all lessons which must never be forgotten.
The federal owners of the Dam knew that there was a threat underneath but instead of acting accordingly they left it to the mercy of the heavy rains to plunder the city of Maiduguri from almost 25 km away sending over 150 souls to the great beyond. That wicked flood incident of 2024 can never be forgotten by those who lost loved ones and properties which was dear to their existence in this world. The questions to ask ourselves after the devastation are many and it should bother both the federal managers and the state government. As a matter of fact, so many questions have been left unanswered after that damnation of 2024.

Primary among them was, did the Dam managers learn any big lesson from the 2024 flood? Were they negligent in allowing the Dam to burst its sims? Was it possible to save the Dam before its collapse? Who were the federal staff on ground that should have saved the situation? Was there any state staff involved in this dangerous dereliction of duty? Would there be repercussions for this mass murder of people due to the carelessness of some professionals? Is there any guarantee that maiduguri will not be flooded again from this same Dam? Can the residents be given an alternative source of drinking water other than what comes from Alau Dam? So many questions to bother the government and partners. And the whole world is waiting to see how many heads will roll while trying to answer these burning questions.

It is sad to note because the city of Maiduguri had been flooded in 1994 when heavy rains caused the banks of the Dam to burst emptying it’s contents into the same Maiduguri. 400,000 people were displaced then but over a million residents were displaced this time around. Many people climbed up trees to escape then but trust me there were no trees to climb this time because it caught them in their homes at the wee hours of the night. A few who sat on their strong roof tops were seen by military boats released by the 7div of the Nigerian army which had arrived by first light looking for who to save quickly.
The entire city centre including the Maiduguri specialist hospital was submerged under water. Driving in from baga road, I had to stop afyer the construction of the western area fly over of the town because the post office looked like a sea of some sorts. This was because everything below two metres were submerged leaving only rooftops for people to see. And sadly because Maiduguri is founded along the Ngadda river which usually disappears along the Firki swamps surrounding lake Chad, it took several days for the water to go down and for residents to return to their residences. The bursting of the man made Alau dam had destabilized the natural order of the surrounding swamps so everyone had to be on stand still till the extra water receded into the lake Chad sources for residential sanity to prevail. The Muna garage axis housing 505 housing estate was the last to receded making return to the place very difficult. The flooding brought in myriads of confusion as most agencies of government couldn’t realize the reality of the challenge associated with the flood until SEMA started dropping the mortality figures. Some even competed among themselves like petty human beings who introduce competition into every thing they do. Imagine one week after the health emergency sector started briefing reporters, that was when the information ministry started work at the complex of the ministry of RRR. It was wrongly called a situational room with just one commissioner present. All other stake holders were clearly absent.

Painful as it was, it took almost a week for the organized health sector to be reorientated from emergencies from insurgency and be activated into flood actions by the Commissioner of health Prof.. Baba Mallam Gana. Well for a health sector that was battling with monkey pox, diphtheria and several other challenges unearthed daily from the surveillance pillar, flood was the least challenge expected on their mind. There were much more important challenges which had to be fixed as quickly as possible. Nobody thought the challenges of the flood would advance to such a massive level as to cause so much damage as it did.

Mistakes made before the declaration of Cholera

While Professor Usman Tar was briefing newsmen intermittently at the RRR complex, the health commissioner was doing his at the emergency centre on damboa road with a much larger crowd of stake holders and collaborators in the business of saving lives. That itself was confusion because the newsmen interested in the details behind the news were confused. Expectedly, many mistakes were made managing the very flood by ministries, departments and parastatals which were supposed to work as a team. The information management of such disasters are done as team. Not the way it was done with the ministry of information holding a separate news conference and the health counterpart doing theirs separately. In organized climes, this kind of disasters are usually handled as a team. What was expected was that the health ministry should have worked with SEMA, ministry of health and any other ministry which had some clearance to make in a situation room which would disseminate the right kind of information to residents and the outside world.

When cholera was declared the Commissioners of health, information and State emergency management Agency (SEMA) should have been on the same table briefing news men while statistics of the mortality rates which was toyed with as if it doesn’t matter would have received maximum attention. There was nothing shameful about giving the exact number of people that died in the disaster because nobody expected less from a flood of that magnitude.

Again for emphasis, news conferences are not meant for everyone to attend. Journalists are never civil servants and do not understand how too play the eye service game like the bureaucratic class of people whose primary goals are to please their excellencies. We work for the common man who only we owe our allegiances to and not to the big men in authority. As a result, the next time the Commissioner is declaring another Cholera disaster as he did during the flood the hall should be populated by only the reporters invited and the commissioner and his permanent secretary. Health sector partners should not be taken out of their tight schedules to witness news conferences. It’s not their business to speak for government in such cases. It’s either the commissioner, his permanent secretary or incident manager and one or two other vital director who will assist the Professor with further details during the conference. What happened last year by the time Commissioner of health was briefing without the key partner for emergencies which is SEMA was a big wrong that should not be repeated in future briefings.

Again, you do not invite journalists to news conferences and expect them to stand. That is another big wrong that must bee avoided. Even photo journalists should be given the pleasure of sitting down before the real conference starts. Most of the journalists invited including top officers of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) were standing while unnecessary intruders were troubled out of their tight schedules to fill the spaces meant for journalists to sit down and do their jobs. If someone thinks what goes on in the government house is the ideal, then they are mistaken. That is not our standard at the NUJ nationwide. We just allow it sometimes because of the emergencies surrounding the city of Maiduguri. The next time another emergency wrecks havoc in the city of maiduguri or within the BAY states respectively, we expect to see the Commissioners of health, information, SEMA and any other important stake holder on the same page with facts and figure briefing newsmen under the same roof. You do not impress reporters with the entire crowd of sector members please. Just get the key stake holders and possibly pillar heads where necessary and we would be good to go. Finally never make the mistake of incorporating a news conference inside another program. It is not right and completely against the reason for calling a news conference which is aimed at generating news for the betterment of the people of the state.

Evaluation of the management of the flood by stakeholders

But by the time the flood arrived the city, the government people in the sector realized literally that there was too much fire on the mountain. Consequently, partners had to do something about saving the lives of the residents in the state capital before worrying about the opportunistic diseases like Cholera which actually come out of such situations from experience. Come to think of it all manner of diseases were sucked by the flood which went as far as desecrating the Gwange cemetery digging out corpses that were already buried in shallow graves and spreading same its trail.

However, on a whole, all hands were on deck to save the residents who were still alive. The military saw the extent of the damage and had to step in with boats to certain hard to reach areas to bring out survivors. Those who did not give up because of old age like octogenarians and sat down with rosary in hand meditating and waiting for the water to kill them in a titanic style. Many were rescued and many are still heart broken over the devastation after the water receded.

Finally, the flood left quite a trail of sorrow tears and blood along its routes as over 150 known souls perished as reported by SEMA. The unknown which includes almajiris who could not swim are not part of this statistics. Those who were pronounced dead by the health sector are not included. Those eaten up by wild animals from the zoo are also not part of this because they turned into faeces splashed in the water.
Those who died from shock in their hospital beds are also not included in this. The University of Maiduguri teaching Hospital (UMTH) and state specialist hospital communities will never forget the litany of woes that flood of September 2024 created for them.
My binocular cannot print out all the dark images I saw with my own eyes here but my prayer is that may this affliction never re occur in the land of Yerwa again.

My Binoculars

THE HISTORICITY OF MARAMA DAY AND THE SYMBOLISM OF CULTURE IN BURA LAND

By: Inuwa Bwala

Every year, since 2004, Bura people all over Nigeria converge on Marama: the symbolic headquaters of Buraland, on the 1st of January, to mark Bura Culture Day, also known as Marama Day.

Bura Culture Day evolved from a local cultural festival innitiated by some elites from Marama, who saw the need to foster community togetherness and promote their cultures and traditions. The initial perception was that Bura culture generally has been facing threats of extinction, and there was the need to rescue and restore its dignity, starting from where it was believed to have originated.

It was also conceived as a rhendezvous for rewarding excellence amongst outstanding sons and daughters and promoting partnership with other cultures.
To us, we need to discourage idle activities, like using the Christmas, Easter, or Sallah holidays as a period for alcoholic misadventures and attendant vices, we could convert the periods for more positive enggagements.
And so, what started as a small group initiative, which was sponsored through contributions, has today crystallized into a global attractiveness.

Over the years, since it was first staged, Marama Day has remained a watershed and the symbolism of Bura people’s dedication to promoting and preserving their rich cultural heritage.
It is one event that has tended to serve as a rhendezvous for all Bura people, irrespective of town, religion, or political inclination.
And those who have been following trends of events annually can attest to the fact that, Bura Culture Day or Marama Day remains a pace setter and the richest celebration of the diverse traditions, customs, and values of tribes across Borno Adamawa and Gombe states; where Bura people can be found.
Initiated against the need to revivee a fast disappearing Culture, and to inculcate the spirit of togetherness and, showcase, and reflect on the significance of cultural activities in the lives of people, Bura Culture, is indeed a mark of pride for Bura people, at home and in diaspora.

Over the years, State Governors, ministers, Senators, traditional rulers, captains of industries and the creme de la creme of the country’s inteligesia have been brought together, to watch, and celeberate and to foster a sense of togetherness.
Marama Day has always provided a platform for different people to express themselves, showcase talents, and share stories.
Besides promoting cross-cultural understanding, tolerance, and appreciation: by the participation of other cultural groups from outsude Bura land, Bura Day is also regarded as the climax of activities to mark Christmas and New Year. Through this festival, people tend to learn from each other’s experiences, traditions, and values, and in doing so, it reshaped our outlook and helps people to break down barriers and build bridges of friendship across cultures, tribes, religion and state.

Bura Culture Day has a profound impact on the mental and emotional well-being of people, which explains why all roads led to Marama during this period. It provides an opportunity for our children born outside Buraland to trace their roots, learn to speak the language properly, and interact with the locals.

For those of us who had the privilege of witnessing all the editions, it provides an outlet for stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions and helps us to develop a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
With the belief that culture is a stimulant for economic development and social cohesion, Bura Day creates jobs and stimulates local economies, besides helping to preserve our cultural heritage for future generations.

The 2025 celebrations, was appropriately tagged”Celeberating A Heritage of Excellence”, and those who were previledged to witness it can attest to the fact that, it was indeed a remembrance of the importance of cultural activities in the lives of people.
The cultural displays, dances, rythms, artifacts and personalities left no one in doubt that, Bura Culture Day is indeed the flagship of other cultural activities and has promoted the preservation of the unique cultural heritage of the Bura people.
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum and his deputy, Dr Umar Usman Kadafur, as well as the Emir of Biu, the emir of Fika, Shani, as well as the Amna Shelleng and the traditional head of Lunguda people from Adamawa state have over the years strengthened our bond if friendship, which further lead to the the lure of Marama Day. Their presence have facilitated closer cultural linkages, culminating into inter marriages..

In their individual remarks, they emphasized the use of cultural activities as a tool for building stronger, more cohesive communities.
It is not out of place to also state that Bura people have always paid special tribute to these individuals, who have added color to Bura Culture Day celeberations.
Bura people have often honored individuals during the event, and it is on record, that Bura have always honored, Governors of Borno State, especially Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Deputy Governor, Dr Umar Usman Kadafur, who is coincidentally a son of Marama, distinguished senator, Mohammed Ali Ndume, and the honorable member representing Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal constituency, Midala Usman Balami and other political and opinion leaders.

Very often, we have tried to insulate Marama Day from political activities, but very often too, some political side events also happen. This is perhaps due to the presence of jey political figures, who use the occasion to market themselves.
Given that having such personalities in the locality at the same time is a rare privilege, Marama people never miss the opportunity to put forward some of their problems.
We utilize such opportunities to inform our guests that the sustainability of Bura Culture Day is contigent upon solutions to some of our problems. We did not allow this opportunity to skip this year, as we outlined some of them.
As I pause, I must state that, Bura Culture Day shall continue to celeberate, our diversity promote our culture: the heritage of excellence; and the years ahead beacons on those who have been reluctant to join, so that together we can make a huge difference.

THE HISTORICITY OF MARAMA DAY AND THE SYMBOLISM OF CULTURE IN BURA LAND

Like a Cat with “Nine Lives”: A testament of resilience and patriotism

By Senator Iroegbu

Col. Bello Fadile’s ‘Nine Lives: The Bello Fadile Memoirs’ is not just a book; it is a gripping account of survival, resilience, and faith. The memoir takes readers through the remarkable journey of a man who defied the odds, from surviving a death sentence under General Sani Abacha’s regime to carving a legacy as Nigeria’s first military-trained lawyer with a PhD in International Law. It is a story of bravery, patriotism, and the enduring quest for justice and democracy.

Having had the privilege of knowing Col. Bello Fadile through my work in the media and security sectors, I can attest to his brilliance, wit, and humility. His life exemplifies resilience and an unyielding faith in God, inspiring hope for a better Nigeria.

A Landmark Event: The Book Launch

The public presentation of Nine Lives on November 18, 2024, at the Shehu Yar’Adua Center, Abuja, was a momentous occasion chaired by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Nigeria’s former military head of state. Dignitaries from diverse spheres, including former military President General Ibrahim Babangida (represented by his daughter Aisha Babangida), former Senate President David Mark, and John Cardinal Onaiyekan, graced the event.

The five-chapter memoir has been lauded as a vivid account of Col. Fadile’s life, chronicling his early struggles, groundbreaking achievements, near-death experiences, and ultimate triumph. It offers insights into Nigeria’s turbulent history and sheds light on the struggles for democracy and justice.

The book offers a glimpse into the extraordinary life of the author, a native of Kogi State, whose remarkable journey is a testament to perseverance and unwavering faith in God. As a trailblazer, Fadile achieved several milestones, including becoming Nigeria’s first military-trained lawyer with a PhD in International Law. His impressive career spanned serving as the Nigerian Army’s inaugural lawyer to founding the prestigious Council for African Security Affairs. Fadile’s story is a powerful narrative of bravery and resilience, marked by his imprisonment and death sentence during General Sani Abacha’s regime. Yet, with the return of democracy in 1999, he emerged free, underscoring his unshakeable spirit.¹ This inspiring account serves as a reminder that strong faith in God can help overcome even the most daunting challenges, a notion echoed in various Christian teachings.

Key Themes and Insights

The Military as Guardian of Nigeria’s Unity and Democracy: General Abdulsalami Abubakar, delivered a powerful keynote address, highlighting the military’s vital role in stabilizing Nigeria during turbulent times. He aptly described the military as a “guardian of national unity”.

Resilience and Service as National Virtues: General Abdulsalami Abubakar described the book as a testament to the transformative power of service and faith. He called on Nigerians, particularly the youth, to emulate Col. Fadile’s unwavering commitment to democracy and nation-building. “Fadile’s story is a reminder that resilience and patriotism are vital to overcoming the challenges of nationhood,” he remarked. Also, former President General Ibrahim Babangida, represented by his daughter Aisha Babangida, lauded Col. Fadile’s courage and intellectual contributions, remarkably demonstrated during his imprisonment under General Sani Abacha’s regime.

Rebuilding National Institutions: Prince Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), emphasized the need to rebuild Nigeria’s critical institutions—military, civil service, judiciary, and industrial sector. He linked the decay in these institutions to Nigeria’s insecurity and advocated for investment in professionalism, discipline, and governance reforms. To inspire future leaders, Adebayo announced the donation of 1,000 copies of the memoir to military schools and institutions.

A Call for a People-Centered Military: In his review, Prof. Agbo Madaki called for a military that prioritizes human rights, peace, and the rule of law. He described Nine Lives as a must-read for students of history and governance, offering critical lessons on resilience, democracy, and institutional accountability.

Youth as Pillars of Nation-Building: Speakers across the event urged Nigerian youth to draw inspiration from Col. Fadile’s life and embrace patriotism, courage, and service. Prof. Maurice Iwu noted that the future of Nigeria depends on a generation willing to tackle challenges with purpose and determination.

Notable Quotes from the Event

“At a time when our nation faces internal and external threats, it is essential to remember that the military is not an isolated institution, but a guardian of national unity.” – Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar

“Even in the face of tribulation, [Fadile] remained undaunted and consistent in the best tradition of resilience.” – Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (represented by Aisha Babangida)

“The book serves as an inspiration to those who may want to give up on their dreams because of trials. It shows how to remain strong and keep faith in God during adversity.” – Prof. Agbo Madaki

“We must encourage the rebuilding of four institutions, and four of them needed to be rebuilt immediately. We need to rebuild our military. We need to rebuild our civil service. We need to rebuild our justice system and we need to rebuild our industrial sector. In an era where modern challenges are timeless in the face, we need to build these institutions and to build them; you need to find your way to extract who will say, I dedicate my entire life to one of these four institutions, like Retired Colonel Fadile.”–Prince Adebayo

“To my fellow heroes of democracy, this is also an opportunity to relive your experiences and relieve yourselves of the burden of history should you be moved to give credence to the contents of my Memoirs or go as far as filling in any gaps that I might have wittingly or unwittingly omitted, due to effluxion of time, battle fog or blind spots. Also, on many fronts, this memoir will clarify issues for many and bring together many who had reasons to disagree. In some forums, differences of opinion may emanate from discussions around the Memoirs. Nevertheless, what is beyond dispute is that this memoir is sure to get us all talking; and from such dialogues, healing occurs, and we jointly relish the sunlight of mutual enlightenment”–Col Bello Fadile.

A Legacy of Hope and Patriotism

Col. Bello Fadile’s memoir is more than a recount of his trials and triumphs—it is a call to action for a better Nigeria. His life is a beacon of hope, reminding us that resilience, faith, and determination can overcome even the most insurmountable odds.
As Nigeria grapples with multifaceted challenges, Nine Lives offers a timely reminder of the transformative power of patriotism and institutional rebuilding. The event echoed a collective aspiration for a more secure, united, and progressive nation.
Col. Fadile’s gratitude to the audience, alongside his reflections on his years of service and sacrifice, underscored the essence of true leadership. His memoir serves as both a history lesson and a roadmap for the future—proof that even in the face of adversity, greatness is attainable.

Senator Iroegbu; a journalist, security analyst and geopolitics enthusiast is the Convener of Geopolitics Series and Editor-In-Chief of Global Sentinel and can be reached at senator.iroegbu@yahoo.co.uk

Like a Cat with “Nine Lives”: A testament of resilience and patriotism