Gombe and Sokoto communities have been shaken after a strong windstorm destroyed houses leaving at least five people dead, dozens injured, and thousands displaced.
The temporary National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Amada, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe state was also affected by the disaster as the roofs of hostels were torn including the main pavilion, on Sunday.
While the government was able to respond swiftly, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Adamu Ibrahim, assured corps members in the affected place of urgent intervention.
Meanwhile, the State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that five residents, including two toddlers, dead in Sokoto after the windstorm in Gwadabawa and Kware Local Government Areas on June 18.
SEMA and the National Emergency Management Agency officials, during a joint on-the-spot assessment on Saturday, disclosed how devastating the aftermath of the Storm was with over 1,400 homes and vital public infrastructure, including schools and other government buildings destroyed.
“In Gwadabawa LG alone, the disaster led to the destruction of 878 houses, affecting 1,306 households and displacing an estimated 7,836 individuals.
“Eleven people sustained varying degrees of injuries. Officials confirmed five fatalities in the Marabawa community, including two children, aged 18 months and three years, who were identified as the children of one Mansur Salihu Talhi,” the report of the assessment team said.
It continued; “In Kware LG, 523 houses were reported destroyed, affecting 1,403 households and injuring 18 persons.
“Several public structures, including parts of Government Secondary School, Kware, suffered significant damage to fences and classrooms.
“A particularly hard-hit area was Kofar-Barga in Kware, where the home of a resident, Ahmad Abbas, was flattened.
“Similarly, approximately 100 houses were damaged in the 30-Quarters area of the town,” the report stated.
“Documentation of all affected individuals and properties was ongoing.
“The data will be submitted to the state and federal governments to facilitate swift humanitarian assistance for the victims,” SEMA reported.
The assessment team in Gwadabawa, in the report presented by SEMA, included DPM Shehu Muhammad, Councilor for Gidan-Kaya Ward, Siba Sodangi, community elder, Adamu Talhi, and SEMA Desk Officer, Nafi’u Bello.
