A series of violent windstorms have wreaked havoc across Sokoto and Gombe States, claiming the lives of five residents, including two toddlers, injuring dozens, and displacing thousands from their homes.
In Gombe State, powerful winds tore through the temporary National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Amada, Akko Local Government Area, on Sunday. The storm ripped off roofs from hostels and destroyed the main pavilion, forcing state officials into urgent action.
Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Adamu Ibrahim, who visited the site on behalf of Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, assured corps members that swift rehabilitation efforts would commence immediately.
“The safety and welfare of our corps members remain our top priority. We will act fast to restore the affected facilities,” Ibrahim stated during the inspection.
Meanwhile, Sokoto State experienced far more tragic consequences. A fierce windstorm swept through Gwadabawa and Kware Local Government Areas on June 18, leaving five people dead, including two children aged 18 months and three years.
The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed the fatalities and released preliminary figures following an on-the-spot assessment conducted on Saturday.
According to officials, over 1,400 homes were destroyed, leaving thousands homeless and in urgent need of assistance. In Gwadabawa, 878 houses were reduced to rubble, displacing 1,306 households and affecting an estimated 7,836 residents.
“Eleven people sustained varying degrees of injuries. The deceased include children of one Mr. Mansur Salihu Talhi,” the joint assessment report revealed.
In Kware LGA, another 523 homes were damaged, impacting 1,403 households and injuring 18 individuals. Public infrastructure wasn’t spared either — key structures like Government Secondary School, Kware, suffered extensive damage, with collapsed fences and classrooms rendered unusable.
Among the worst-hit areas was Kofar-Barga, where the home of local resident Ahmad Abbas was completely flattened. In the nearby 30-Quarters, approximately 100 houses were affected.
SEMA noted that comprehensive documentation of all affected residents and properties is ongoing.
“We are compiling data to be submitted to the state and federal governments to enable prompt humanitarian assistance,” said Nafi’u Bello, SEMA’s Desk Officer.
As Sokoto and Gombe continue to count the cost of the storm’s destruction, affected communities are calling on both state and federal authorities to fast-track relief materials and resettlement support.
