Flood warnings had been ringing out across Nigeria’s north-east for weeks. Schools in Maiduguri were closed for a fortnight as the torrential rains came. The reservoir of the Alau Dam began to overflow;

When floods swept through Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri last week, canoe owners volunteered to help move residents to safety. But residents say they are now being ripped off by the canoe owners charging steep fees to move their belongings.

Flooding caused devastating damage in north-eastern Nigeria on Wednesday. Heavy rainfall in the region also caused several dams to burst. Water also had to be drained from a reservoir in neighboring Cameroon.