One person has been reported dead as tragedy struck in the Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State following a destructive windstorm that swept through Wuro Juli, Wuro She, and other suburban areas of the state.
Witnesses recounted the horror of the windstorm, which brought devastation to the region shortly after the first rain of the season commenced around 4:30 pm.
The storm, which wreaked havoc in Ampate area I and II, Maitama, Nayi Nawa, and Bagadaza communities, claimed the life of a child in Ampate area II. Several other people were injured and hospitalized due to the fierce winds.
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Abba, a resident who lost his house and belongings to the storm, described the aftermath as devastating. He narrated that while teaching his Almajiri students, the roof of their study area was blown away, signaling the onset of the disaster.
“After that, I noticed that some parts of the roofing of my house was gone, I then rushed into the compound to see what was happening and that was how the complete roof was blown away and the fence was brought down as well as other parts of the building.
“My wife and 4 of my children were given a place to spend the night in a neighbour’s house while me and the two others stayed to watch over our properties that were left in the open,” Abba stated.
Isah Adamu, the ward head of Wuro Ampate, on his part pointed out the widespread impact of the destruction, noting that over 100 houses were affected, leaving several families homeless.
“I have been going around to ascertain the number of affected buildings and families, but I have not been able to get the exact number because the destruction is enormous, as you can see, the area is big and there are over 100 houses that are affected.
“We only hope that the government will come and support these families who are mostly seeking shelter and other support.
“You know people are already going through a lot of challenges due to the growing hardships in the land, and this destruction has added to the troubles of several families.” Adamu stated.
The Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency, Haruna Abdullahi, who confirmed the incident, stated that his officers were deployed to assess the extent of the destruction.
He said, “I’m not around at the moment but I have asked our people to find out the situation in Wuro Juli, Wuro She and others.
“I’m not aware of any loss of life for now until they go tomorrow (Wednesday) to assess the impact of the windstorm.”
Abdullahi urged residents to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions as the rainy season progresses.