• 5,403 households displaced across 120 communities in 13 LGAs
From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
A devastating windstorm has swept through Jigawa State, claiming at least seven lives, injuring 53 others, and wreaking havoc on 5,403 households.
The disaster has severely impacted 120 communities across 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Hannafi Yakubu Fagam, confirmed the casualties and extent of the damage during a press briefing at the State Secretariat in Dutse.
He noted that the the severe weather led to fatalities across four local government areas, with Dutse being the hardest hit.
According to him, in total, the storm tore through 13 local government areas, including Dutse, Miga, Gwaram, Birnin Kudu, Ringim, Kiyawa, Babura, Kiri-Kasamma, Buji, Kaugama, Gumel, Gagarawa, and Sule-Tankarkar.
He added that beyond the tragic human toll, the high-velocity winds caused catastrophic damage to critical public infrastructure and institutional facilities across the state, destroying public infrastructure, private homes and businesses.
According to him, over 47 primary and secondary schools, 3 hospitals and 2 police stations.
He said thousands of homes and personal properties were left structurally compromised or entirely unroofed.
Alhaji Fagam confirmed that the state government has already approved funds to provide immediate intervention and relief materials to the victims.
Describing the windstorm as an unavoidable natural disaster, the SEMA boss appealed to the wider community for assistance.
“We are calling on international donors, national organizations, and the general public to intervene and support the affected victims in any way they can,” Fagam stated.
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