NO fewer than seven persons have died, while 5,403 residents have been affected following a series of windstorms that swept through 120 communities in 13 local government areas of Jigawa State.
The Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Relief Management Agency, Hannafi Yakubu, disclosed the figures while briefing journalists in Dutse today.
According to Yakubu, the windstorms struck at the beginning of the rainy season, leaving widespread destruction across several parts of the state.
He said the disaster claimed seven lives and affected more than 5,400 people.
The windstorms also damaged homes and key public infrastructure, including about 50 schools and healthcare facilities, as well as two police stations. Yakubu described the incident as the most significant disaster currently facing the state.
Although widespread flooding has yet to occur, he noted that the impact of the windstorms alone has been severe across the affected local government areas.
He said the agency is working closely with the National Emergency Management Agency to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate emergency response efforts.
Yakubu appealed to the Federal Government, local government councils, humanitarian organisations, development partners, corporate bodies and individuals to support affected communities, stressing that disaster management requires collective action.
He further revealed that the Jigawa State Government had approved more than ₦800 million for emergency preparedness ahead of the rainy season.
The funds, he said, are being used to procure and stockpile relief materials for rapid response to disasters.
The affected local government areas include Dutse, Gwaram, Birnin Kudu, Kiyawa, Babura, Gumel, Kaugama, Ringim, Gagarawa, Kirikasamma, Sule Tankarkar, Miga and Buji.
Yakubu disclosed that Ringim recorded the highest number of affected residents with 1,182 victims, followed by Dutse with 792, Babura with 650, Kirikasamma with 605 and Birnin Kudu with 539.
He also confirmed an isolated flooding incident in Miga Local Government Area, where more than 70 hectares of farmland were destroyed.
He, however, explained that the incident could not yet be classified as part of the state’s annual flooding season since major rivers have not overflowed.
Yakubu assured residents that the state government would continue to strengthen disaster preparedness and provide relief assistance to affected communities.
