Jigawa: Windstorm kills 7, injures 53 in 13 LGAs

A total of at least seven deaths have been recorded while another 53 people were injured following a storm which swept through 13 local government areas in Jigawa State.

This was revealed on Wednesday by the Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Hannafi Fagam, in Dutse.

Fagam confirmed that the disaster had affected 5,403 households in 120 communities across the state causing massive destruction of properties and affecting the lives of thousands of people. According to him, the agency is still assessing the damages caused and providing help to the affected communities.

“The affected local government areas include Dutse, Miga, Gwaram, Birnin Kudu, Ringim, Kiyawa, Babura, Kiri-Kasamma, Buji, Kaugama, Gumel, Gagarawa and Sule-Tankarkar,” he added.

The executive secretary also stated that four people died in Dutse LGA while one person died in Miga, Ringim and Sule-Tankarkar LGAs.

According to Fagam, the windstorm ravaged over 47 primary and secondary schools, three hospitals, two police stations, housing units, among others.

The Jigawa state government had allocated funds for immediate response and assistance to the victims, according to him, and an assessment exercise was still being carried out to ascertain the extent of the destruction.

He termed the disaster as a humanitarian disaster with serious socio-economic implications, and added that the agency is in liaison with other stakeholders in coordinating the relief effort.

He urged international development partners, humanitarian organizations, corporate organizations and well-meaning individuals to assist the state’s intervention through donations of relief materials and others to the victims.

Fagam assured the residents that the agency will continue assessing the affected communities and ensure immediate relief items distribution to victims.