Zoo animals roam streets as floods hit north Nigeria

Floodwaters have ravaged northern Nigeria, causing widespread devastation and chaos. As the waters continue to rise, hundreds of people have been forced to flee their homes, seeking safety on higher ground. But it’s not just the human lives that are at risk. 

The Sanda Kyarimi Park Zoo has been inundated, putting the lives of animals in peril. The deluge had led some of the animals including ostriches, crocodiles and snakes to escape and venture into the communities. 

The authorities urged the residents to take necessary precautions. 

Over 80 per cent of the animals in the zoo were killed in the recent floods.

Floods began when a dam overflowed after heavy rains, uprooting thousands of people.

The disaster has also affected other facilities in the capital,  Maiduguri, including a post office and a teaching hospital, said the office of the Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu. 

The government had urged the people to evacuate the worst-hit areas. 

Floods in the north-east of Nigeria killed at least 49 people last month. In 2022 floods in the region killed over 600.