One man who brought succour to Borno’s displaced flood victims

When pain and desolation befell the city of Maiduguri in Borno State, following the flooding that submerged almost half the city in September, a young man brought succour to thousands of people displaced by the flooding. Lawan Bukar Maigana, a tailor and graduate of Mass Communications used social media to galvanise one of the biggest […]

When pain and desolation befell the city of Maiduguri in Borno State, following the flooding that submerged almost half the city in September, a young man brought succour to thousands of people displaced by the flooding. Lawan Bukar Maigana, a tailor and graduate of Mass Communications used social media to galvanise one of the biggest individual interventions that have seen more than 9,000 people fed daily and provided with basic supplies.

 

Anguish befell many residents of Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State on September 10, 2024, due to a breach of the Alau Dam that caused almost half the city to flood. Residents, who were healing from the traumatic years of insurgency that had caused one of the biggest humanitarian crises in Nigeria’s recent history, were plunged into another disaster. However, the flood, which according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) displaced almost half a million gave rise to the spirit of compassion, togetherness and community resilience.

Lawan Bukar Maigana embodies this spirit of compassion when he took to social media and launched a crowdfunding campaign to assist residents. His efforts have so far reached over 9,000 individuals, predominantly women and children, providing them with essential supplies such as food, sanitary pads, baby milk, diapers, detergents, and clothing.

Each day, Maigana and his team cook two bags of 50kg rice together with cartons of macaroni to be distributed. So far, he says they have covered different locations in the city, including “Gwange II & III, Abbagaram, Ngarannan, Simari Bayan Qurters, London Ciki, Girgiri Oil and Gas, Tazako Area, Teachers Village Camp, Uwais Alqarni Private School, Mufazat Academy Maiduguri, DecentField International, Federal Lowcost Jummaa Mosque, Jajeri Secondary School, and Aisha Buhari Memorial School behind Ali Sharif’s House. They have also supported with funds, bread, detergents, and mosquito coils to be distributed to victims in Gwange III.

However, his accountability of how the funds are spent has endeared him to many on social media who commended him for his transparency. Each donation, whether large or small, is meticulously documented and posted on his Facebook page, instilling confidence in both his donors and his cause.

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“I seek no personal gain,” he recently posted on his Facebook page. “My actions are motivated solely by the love for humanity and for the sake of Allah SWT, from whom I expect my rewards” he added.

His posts, often accompanied by real-time photos and videos, provide a transparent window into his work on the ground. From distributing food and essentials to advocating for medical help, his actions resonate powerfully with a sense of empathy and compassion.

In one of his early posts, he shared the story of three women—Khadija, Maimuna, and Aisha, who tragically lost their babies due to complications brought on by the floodwater. “Alhamdulillah, I spoke to them this morning, and they delivered, but tragically lost their babies,” he recounted. Maigana’s immediate response to a medical need during this time showcased his selflessness. In one of his posts on Facebook, he said “We urgently need blood group A for a woman who has just been admitted to Galaxy Hospital in Bolori after giving birth at Uwais Alqarni.” Recognising that his blood type matched the patient’s, he promptly donated, illustrating not only his willingness to help but his readiness to act without hesitation when lives are at stake.

In another emotional post, Maigana wrote that a young woman who underwent a Caesarean section had tragically lost her baby just before the floods. Upon hearing of her plight, his team ensured she received proper medical care and financial support for nutritious food.

Maigana’s narrative extends beyond individual acts of kindness; he recounts broader relief efforts with a sense of accomplishment and urgency. “This morning (September 20, 2024), we slaughtered the cow we purchased for the victims. Last evening, we handed over 450 plates of jollof rice and 30 cartons of Yale bread to be distributed to victims in Gwange-3, Moduganari Bypass, and Uwais Alqarni School.” He wrote these updates to update not just the donors of funds but so that other Nigerians have a sense of the situation and the condition in which the flooding has left people.

Such efforts also restore the dignity and hope of those who have lost so much. In a different post, Maigana highlighted the plight of five young women who, after enduring more than ten days without adequate clothing, were too shy to seek assistance. “I spoke to my fiancée, and she donated ten of her garments, which we have since distributed,” he stated.

A graduate of Mass communication from the University of Maiduguri, Maigana is presently pursuing his Masters degree in the same university. One of his lecturers, Dr. Adam Kolo wrote: “While many in his age group immerse themselves in social media banter, Maigana has turned these platforms into tools for action, rallying support for those in dire need. His journey as a volunteer ignited the day after the floods when he took to Facebook to issue a heartfelt plea for donations.”

He said Maigana’s commitment to transparency is underscored in poignant updates detailing the needs of those he helps adding that the young man is more than just a passionate humanitarian but represents the essence of community service, driven by love, compassion, and humility. “His unwavering commitment, fuelled by deep faith, serves as a shining example of what is possible when individuals unite for the greater good.”

He added that Maigana’s efforts inspire others to act, to give, and to care. “In times of disaster, it is people like Ibn Maigana who remind us of the profound strength of the human spirit and the unbreakable bonds of community. May Allah ease their suffering and reward every single one of you for your support” he said.

The Head of Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Dr. Abdulmutallib Abubakar in an interview said Maigana’s haumanitarian activities became obvious even before the flooding as he had done some interventions for victims of Boko Haram.

“And he also used the platform (social media) in order to be accountable. He accounted for everything so that anybody who contributes, no matter how little is able to see. He used the locations, the beneficiaries of the intervention and also used their pictures.”

He said it was obvious that Maigana understood the textual, visual, and pictorial way of communicating, hence his use of social media.

However, Maigana himself says he started mobilising funds a day after the Maiduguri flooding. “We buy mosquito nets, buy detergent, buy brooms and distribute it to them. We also wash their toilets so they could have time to eat” he added.

“I am doing this because they are humans like us and what has happened to them can happen to any of us. So, we are just putting them in our shoes, assuming it had happened to us, how would we have felt when someone tries to assist us? So, that is what is motivating me to mobilize funds,” he said.

His beneficiaries described him as God’s sent. Speaking in Hausa, Ibrahim Maulid who fled from Abbaganaram Gidan Yashi one of the areas submerged appreciated Maigana for his relentless effort towards seeing that they are fed and provided other basic needs.

Yashua Abubakar, a widow with six children from Bulabulin area, and a beneficiary of Maigana’s gesture said: “I thank God for giving him (Maigana) the privileged to come and help us here, may Allah increase him.”

Aisha Mohmadu from Hausari, also appreciated Maigana and prayed for more doors for him. Ibrahim Mohmed, and other beneficiaries in different interview reiterated that Maigana is one of the few individuals that have supported them with food and non-food items.

As residents of Maiduguri find ways to cope with the tragedy Maigana’s team continue to operate on the ground, providing succour to many who need it.