Windstorms kill five in Sokoto, damage Gombe NYSC camp

A wave of devastating windstorms has struck communities in Gombe and Sokoto states, leaving at least five people dead, dozens injured, and thousands displaced.

In Gombe State, strong winds once again battered the temporary National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Amada, Akko Local Government Area, tearing off the roofs of hostels and the main pavilion.

The incident, which occurred on Sunday, prompted a swift response from the government, with the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Adamu Ibrahim, assuring corps members of urgent intervention.

In Sokoto State, the windstorm was far more deadly.

Officials of the State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that five residents, including two toddlers, died following the storm that swept through Gwadabawa and Kware Local Government Areas on June 18.

Over 1,400 homes and key public infrastructure were destroyed, leaving thousands homeless and in urgent need of aid.

reported says how the NYSC camp had previously suffered similar challenges affecting its temporary pavilion and other facilities.

Ibrahim, who visited the camp on behalf of Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, to assess the extent of the damage, promised prompt government intervention.

In Sokoto, SEMA and National Emergency Management Agency officials, during a joint on-the-spot assessment, disclosed the grim aftermath during a visit to the affected areas on Saturday.

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

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 assessment team reported.

The assessment team in Gwadabawa, according to a report made available by SEMA, included DPM Shehu Muhammad, Councilor for Gidan-Kaya Ward, Siba Sodangi, community elder, Adamu Talhi, and SEMA Desk Officer, Nafi’u Bello.

“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.

SEMA confirmed that 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 confirmed.