No fewer than two persons have been confirmed dead, while over 50 houses were destroyed following a devastating rainstorm that struck Dokan Mai-Jama’a in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Village Head of the community, Alhaji Hamisu Tukur, who confirmed the incident, said the storm displaced several residents and caused widespread destruction.
Tukur told PUNCH Metro on Tuesday that more than 50 houses were severely affected, with many completely flattened by the impact of the windstorm.
Residents said the heavy rainfall, which was accompanied by strong winds, began at about 6:41 p.m. on Monday and lasted for over 40 minutes.
A visit to the community by our correspondent showed that many families had been rendered homeless, as victims struggled to salvage their belongings from the debris of destroyed homes.
Some buildings were reduced to rubble, while others had their roofs blown off, leaving occupants exposed to harsh weather conditions.
Affected residents were seen making frantic efforts to secure temporary shelter for their families.
The victims appealed to the Kaduna State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency, and the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency for urgent intervention.
In a related development, the rainstorm also wreaked havoc in the Sabon Gyero community within Millennium City, also in Chikun Local Government Area, where several houses were damaged and more than 10 perimeter fences destroyed.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the rainfall caused traffic disruption after a major road was blocked, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency has deployed a team to the affected community to assess the level of damage and determine the necessary response.
Incidents of rainstorms and wind-related disasters are common during the rainy season across parts of northern Nigeria, often resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property.
In recent years, several communities in Kaduna State have recorded similar tragedies, with poorly constructed buildings and weak roofing structures frequently worsening the impact of heavy winds.
Emergency agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency and the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, have repeatedly urged residents to adopt safer building practices and heed early weather warnings issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has also forecast increased rainfall intensity in many parts of the country this year, raising concerns about the likelihood of more extreme weather events and flooding.
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