A series of fierce windstorms have ravaged communities in Gombe and Sokoto States, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. At least five lives, including those of two toddlers, have been lost, dozens are injured, and thousands of residents are now homeless.
In Gombe State, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) temporary orientation camp in Amada, Akko Local Government Area, bore the brunt of Sunday’s storm. Ferocious winds tore through the camp, ripping off the roofs of several hostels and damaging the main pavilion. The incident disrupted camp activities and raised concerns about the safety of corps members.
Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Adamu Ibrahim, who visited the camp on behalf of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, reassured corps members and officials that the state government would intervene swiftly to carry out repairs and restore normalcy.
“This is not the first time the camp has been affected,” Ibrahim acknowledged. “We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all corps members. Immediate steps will be taken to address the damage.”
While Gombe reeled from infrastructural damage, Sokoto State experienced a far graver tragedy.
On June 18, violent winds swept through Gwadabawa and Kware Local Government Areas, killing five people and injuring nearly 30 others. Among the deceased were two young children, 18-month-old and three-year-old siblings, tragically identified as the children of Mansur Salihu Talhi in Marabawa community.
READ ALSO: Ortom accuses Governor Alia of politicising Benue insecurity
According to the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), more than 1,400 homes and vital public infrastructure were either damaged or destroyed, displacing thousands.
In Gwadabawa, officials reported 878 houses destroyed, affecting 1,306 households and displacing over 7,800 residents. Eleven individuals sustained injuries.
In neighbouring Kware LGA, 523 homes were reported destroyed, with 18 people injured. Several public institutions, including parts of the Government Secondary School in Kware, suffered severe structural damage. Classrooms and fences were left in ruins, and in Kofar-Barga, the home of a resident, Ahmad Abbas, was completely flattened.
“Approximately 100 houses were also damaged in the 30-Quarters area of Kware,” officials noted in their preliminary report.
SEMA officials, along with local leaders and emergency response coordinators, are currently conducting detailed assessments and documenting all affected persons and properties.
“The data will be submitted to the state and federal governments to enable the prompt delivery of humanitarian aid to victims,” SEMA stated.
The post Windstorms claim lives, displace thousands in Gombe and Sokoto appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.
