Residents Displaced As Windstorm Destroys Houses In Yobe

A devastating windstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall has destroyed houses and displaced residents in Turbangida village, Danani ward, Bursari Local Government Area, Yobe State.

The incident, which occurred yesterday amid worsening weather, has left some residents in distress after they lost their homes and valuable belongings.

A resident said the windstorm lasted about 40 minutes, causing significant damage in the area.

“Alhamdulillah, there has been no report of loss of lives so far, but many properties, including livestock, were destroyed due to falling trees,” he said.

Turbangida village, about 18 kilometres from the headquarters of the Bursari Local Government Area, is currently facing a difficult situation as residents struggle to rebuild their homes and restore their livelihoods.

The affected residents have appealed to the state government and humanitarian organisations to provide urgent assistance to help them recover from the disaster.

Environmental experts have linked the increasing frequency of severe windstorms to climate change and rising global temperatures, which are partly driven by human activities such as indiscriminate tree cutting and the failure to plant new trees.

The Programme Manager of the North East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZDP), Dr Mulima Idi Mato, said deforestation remained one of the major factors contributing to climate change and the environmental challenges being experienced today.

Dr Mato said rainfall used to begin between June 16 and 20 in previous years, but that the situation had changed,as July is almost ending. He said many farmers had yet to complete planting due to delayed rainfall.

Mato attributed the development to the continuous destruction of trees without adequate environmental protection measures.

The environmental expert warned against cutting down trees such as tamarind, baobab, and other indigenous species, especially those around the River Yobe, saying the practice posed a serious threat to the river’s survival, similar to the challenges facing Lake Chad.

He called on governments in northern states, particularly those in the North-East, to intensify tree-planting campaigns, educate communities on environmental protection and introduce measures to reduce illegal tree felling.

He also urged residents to embrace alternative sources of energy, including gas cookers, improved stoves and electric appliances, to reduce dependence on firewood and curb the destruction of trees.