A seven-month-old infant has died, while hundreds of houses were destroyed following a devastating windstorm that hit Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The disaster, which occurred on Friday and Sunday, affected several communities, destroying houses, schools, health facilities and electricity poles, while displacing many residents and causing widespread hardship.
One of the victims, Malam Musa, said the windstorm began at about 3 p.m. on Friday and ripped off the entire roof of his house in the Auramo Quarters area, leaving his family displaced.
He added that the storm damaged several parts of the building and destroyed valuable household property.
Another resident, Malam Muhammad, said the windstorm completely destroyed his four-bedroom house, forcing his wives and children to seek temporary shelter elsewhere.
The affected residents appealed to the government, humanitarian organisations and well-meaning individuals to assist them in mitigating the impact of the disaster.
Speaking during a sympathy visit to the affected communities, the Chairman of Ringim Local Government Council, Badamasi Garba, disclosed that hundreds of houses were affected by the disaster.
Garba said the local government council, the Jigawa State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency were working together to provide relief materials and other forms of assistance to the victims.
According to him, all district heads had been directed to work with village heads to compile comprehensive records of those affected by the windstorm.
The chairman sympathised with the victims and prayed for the repose of the deceased infant and for the bereaved family to have the strength to bear the loss.
Also speaking during a courtesy visit to the council chairman, the Director of NEMA’s Kano/Jigawa Zonal Office, Dr Nuraddeen Abdullahi, said officials of the agency were in the state to sympathise with the victims and assess the extent of the damage.
Abdullahi, who was represented by Zakar Muhammad, said, “We are here to visit the affected communities to sympathise with the victims on behalf of the Federal Government and to assess the level of destruction for possible intervention.”
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the victims and helping them recover from their losses.
