A devastating windstorm has rendered many residents homeless in Niger State after destroying over 1,000 houses across several local government areas on Wednesday. The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday, identifying Mokwa and Bida as the worst hit regions. The agency stated, “The Niger State Emergency Management Agency has commenced rapid assessment following a devastating windstorm disaster that affected several communities across Mokwa, Bida and some other local government areas of Niger State,” adding that preliminary reports show widespread destruction in the affected communities.
In the Mokwa Local Government Area, the storm ravaged several areas including Sawmill, Kpege Wayata, Kpege, Station Girigi, Efu Shaba Lile, Tifin Madza, Yafu, Etisheshi, Hakimi Aliyu, and Nasfat. The agency further reported that “Preliminary reports indicate that over 1,000 houses were destroyed or severely damaged in communities within Mokwa Local Government Area, including Sawmill, Kpege Wayata, Kpege, Station Girigi, Efu Shaba Lile, Tifin Madza, Yafu, Etisheshi, Hakimi Aliyu and Nasfat areas.” Similarly, several wards in Bida such as Cheniyan, Nasarafu, Bariki, Kyari, Dokoza, Masaga A, and Masaga B were significantly impacted.
The disaster also extended to Lavun, Katcha, Gbako, and Mariga local government areas. In the Mariga region, more than 100 houses had earlier been reported destroyed in the Durgu community under Bobi Ward. Baba-Arah noted that the agency has begun detailed assessment operations in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and local government authorities to determine the full extent of the destruction and the humanitarian needs of the displaced residents. He assured that the state is working to ascertain the scale of damage and provide the necessary assistance to those affected by the disaster.
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