FLOOD: Water Destroyed Orphanage’s Farms In Maiduguri, Damaged Hundreds Bags Of Rice, Other Farm Produce

Following the river flooding that affected some communities in Maiduguri, Borno State’s capital, a farmland belonging to an orphanages was submerged in the water.

The farmland is situated along the bank of Fori river, where the orphanage is located.

The orphanage, Future Prowess Islamic Foundation, was established by Barrister Zanna Mustapha, a retired legal practisioner and philanthropist.

According to him, the farmland is about 12 hectares of land and is use for both irrigation and raining season farming.

As part of the foundation’s programs, Mustapha said the farm is distributed for guardians of the orphans in the school who also live around the school area.

The farm, which runs throughout the year, is used as a means of livelihood for the people.

According to Barrister, while they prepare to cultivate the produce in the farm, they are already prepared for dry season farming.

Some of the victims live in temporary tents built by Nongovernmental Organizations, NGOs along the river and others are spread within the host communities.

Highlighting the impact of the damage caused by the flood, Barr. Mustapha noted that rice about 200 bags were destroyed.

‘The farm has the capacity to produce two hundred bags of rice. We cannot get even one spoon now,’ he said.

Other farm produce destroyed in the farms include, groundnut, sessam, beans, sweet potatoes, onions and others.

On the school facility, the lawyer said that the water has flooded the compound of the secondary section but has noted caused serious damages.

However, he noted that it has flooded the school garden and a fish pond.

The river flooding is caused by the breaking of Alao Dam, a water reservoir that feeds the Fori river from it’s access water.

Barr. Mustapha calls for interventions for the farmers and guardian of the oprhans from governments at all levels and other intervention and donor agencies.

Mustapha is a receipiant of 2021 CNN Heroes Award for his peace building efforts, philanthropist activities, especially on oprhans and other victims of Boko-Haram armed conflict in the Northeast region.