A Humanitarian Journey: Meeting Flood Victims Up Close
By Lawan Bukar Maigana
Following the massive Maiduguri flood that has rendered many people homeless, claimed lives, and destroyed houses, I single-handedly launched a crowdfunding campaign using my Facebook account, Lawan Bukar Maigana, to support the victims. We have reached out to over 13,000 individuals, mostly women and children. We identified the places where they sought refuge and provided them with food, sanitary pads, milk for babies, diapers, detergents, and clothes.
The gravity of their situation was overwhelming, but with a dedicated team and the generosity of supporters, we provided relief to more than 1200 individuals, mostly women and children at Girgiri Oil and Gas Plaza along Baga Road.
Our relief efforts focused on bringing essential supplies to the displaced. We distributed food, water, clothing, and other necessary items to various temporary camps, including the former Royal Day Primary School, which was home to over 300 women and children. While there, we encountered a young girl with an untreated wound. Realizing the urgency of her condition, we arranged immediate medical assistance for her at a private hospital.
In Bolori, we provided food for 700 flood victims, ensuring each of them received bread, detergents, mosquito coils, and extended financial support to mothers who gave birth amidst the flood. Each encounter we had reveal the struggle and resilience of the people affected, inspiring us to intensify our efforts with even greater resolve.
Our next stop was in Maiduri, where we distributed 750 plates of sweet potatoes and bread, along with mosquito coils to protect families from insect-borne illnesses. The supplies were crucial, as many had not access to food or protection since the first day the massive flood occurred. This mission was made possible by the generous donations from my brother Muktar Mohammed (a car dealer) and other well-wishers, whose support allowed us to provide for even more families in need than we ever thought.
One turning point came when an individual contributed 5 million Naira, which enabled us to purchase additional essentials like rice, oil, macaroni, mosquito coils, and even a cow to serve the victims. With these resources, we targeted hard-to-reach areas, including Gwange, Maiduri, and Mairi, bringing much-needed supplies to isolated communities.
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Access to some of these areas was nearly impossible due to flooding, so we got creative. In one particularly affected community, we provided funds to a local woman, who then cooked meals on the street for the victims, ensuring everyone received a warm meal.
Each encounter held stories of resilience, like the woman we helped who had undergone a C-section but tragically lost her baby. We took her to Galaxy Hospital and provided funds for her sister to support her. Both of them had no clothes aside from the ones on them.
Quickly, I observed that they were of the same height and size as my fiancé, Maryam Babayo Ali. I called and asked her to donate some of her clothes to them, and she generously donated seven sets which we distributed to them at the hospital. They were extremely happy with the gesture and prayed to Allah to bless her. They also asked me to look after her well.
Sadly, we were attacked twice in the Bayan Quarters and Sabon Lamba areas by thugs who wanted to forcefully collect the relief materials from us because they thought we were government agents.
Luckily, we had a professional driver who was always ready to take off should the need arise. That didn’t discourage us from continuing to support our people. We collectively took it as a challenge, saying that we were doing it for God’s sake; therefore, we became stronger than ever before and moved on.
At Ngarannan, we met eleven women who gave birth and had been relocated to Jajeri Primary School. We supported them with food, detergents, and financial assistance, promising to supply quality mosquito nets to protect their families from illness. As promised, we delivered the baby kits and mosquito nets to all of them.
Our team was also informed of Command camp behind Al-Ansar, which had gone a full day without support. With no time to waste, we rallied together, delivering food, clothing, water, and essential supplies. Partnering with local NGOs, like AIFA, we provided additional funds and supplies, allowing them to reach areas that our team couldn’t cover.
Looking back, the experience was a powerful reminder of the strength of our shared humanity. The resilience of Maiduguri’s flood victims and the outpouring of support from individuals within the community, especially netizens, emphasized the impact we can have when we stand together in times of need. The journey was humbling, inspiring, and a testament to the power of compassion in times of crisis.
My special appreciation goes to Alh. Mohammed Kyari Alto and my humble brother, Mohammed Umar, who supported me from the first day to the last day of our intervention. Both of them took what I call ’emergency leave’ from work to support me as best they could.
Lawan Bukar Maigana writes from Maiduguri and can be reached via email: [email protected]
