The city of Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria remains haunted by the devastating floods that struck a year ago, leaving a trail of destruction, loss, and ongoing suffering. Torrential rains and the collapse of the Alau dam submerged entire neighborhoods, claiming at least 37 lives and displacing two million people. For many residents, the scars of the disaster are still fresh, and the looming threat of another flood season has heightened anxiety. Among the victims is Sa’adatu Dahiru, a 42-year-old mother who lost her two-year-old son to hunger and fever during the crisis. ‘We had no proper food, no medicine, and no safe place to stay,’ she recounted, describing how her family fled in the middle of the night with only a few belongings. Despite receiving 10,000 naira ($7) in state aid initially, Dahiru claims that further government promises remain unfulfilled, leaving her family in continued hardship. The Borno state government asserts that it has provided relief camps, food aid, and cash handouts to affected communities. Reconstruction of the dam and dyke system at Alau, which caused the flooding, is also underway. However, the region’s long-standing insurgency by the Boko Haram group has complicated maintenance efforts, according to Mohammed Shettima, head of the Chad Basin Development Authority’s engineering department. The dam’s proximity to the Sambisa forest, a known jihadist stronghold, has made it vulnerable to neglect and attacks. The floods have compounded the struggles of residents already displaced by Islamist violence. Maryam Jidda, a 72-year-old grandmother, fled her hometown of Damboa after a Boko Haram attack four years ago, only to face the floods in Maiduguri. ‘I stood in waist-deep water, crying,’ she recalled, describing the moment her home was overwhelmed. Now living in temporary shelter with scarce food and unclean water, Jidda mourns the loss of her family’s memories, including cherished photographs. Young people like Ali Kadau, 21, have also been severely impacted. Kadau, who once worked at a mechanic shop, lost his livelihood and possessions in the flood. ‘Now, I just sit around. No job. No school. No money to start anything,’ he lamented. The Borno state government, led by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, has described the flood response as a daunting task, particularly given the region’s ongoing conflict with violent extremism. Efforts to address the crisis have included desilting rivers, constructing new drainage systems, and distributing 28.2 billion naira ($18 million) in aid to over 100,000 households. However, the need for additional funding to rebuild infrastructure remains critical. As the rainy season peaks, residents like Dahiru and Jidda face an uncertain future, grappling with the question of how to rebuild their lives from nothing.