Windstorms Kill 5, Destroy 1,400 Houses In Sokoto

A devastating windstorms that swept through Gwadabawa and Kware local government areas of Sokoto State have claimed the lives of five residents, injured dozens, and left a trail of destructions across both LGAs.

Officials from the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), who conducted a joint on-the-spot assessment, disclosed the ugly aftermaths of the storms during a visit to the affected areas.

According to the assessment report, the storm affected over 1,400 homes and vital public infrastructure, including schools and other government buildings.

It was gathered that in Gwadabawa LGA alone, 878 houses were destroyed, 1,306 households affected while an estimated 7,836 individuals were affected.

“Eleven people sustained varying degrees of injuries. Officials confirmed five fatalities in the Marabawa community, including two children aged 18 months and 3 years, who were identified as the children of one Mansur Salihu Talhi,” the report noted.

According to SEMA, “In Kware LGA, 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.”

SEMA also confirmed that documentation of all affected individuals and properties was ongoing.

The agency said the data will be submitted to the state and federal governments to facilitate swift humanitarian assistance for the victims.