Three people have died and many others are injured after a strong windstorm hit Gashua, the headquarters of Bade Local Government Area in Yobe State, on Wednesday evening.
The storm, which lasted about 30 minutes, caused damage to hundreds of houses, shops, and business places. It also destroyed telecommunications facilities and electricity poles, leaving many people without homes and causing millions of naira in property loss.
Ibrahim Babagana, the Chairman of Bade Local Government Area, called the incident one of the worst disasters the area has seen in years.
"It was a devastating windstorm that started around 5:30 pm on Wednesday and lasted for only 30 minutes. I can confirm to you that three persons have died from the incident, while others are receiving medical attention at the Gashua Specialist Hospital, with a few others discharged," Babagana said.
He added, "This is one of the worst windstorms I have ever witnessed in my life. We have not experienced such a storm in the last few decades; almost every resident of Gashua has been affected in one way or another. Houses, shops, roofs, telecommunication masts, and electricity poles have been seriously affected."
Babagana mentioned that the local government could not handle the scale of the damage. He has asked for emergency help from the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency.
"The scale of the destruction has exceeded the response capacity of both the affected communities and the Local Government. There is an urgent need for immediate government intervention to provide relief materials and temporary shelter for victims," he said.
A Gashua resident, Muhammad Isa, explained that it was the wind, not the rain, that caused the destruction in the town.
"The rainfall itself was not particularly heavy, but the accompanying windstorm caused unprecedented destruction," Isa said.
He noted that many houses collapsed and that telecommunications facilities were badly damaged.
"Some telecommunications masts were completely brought down, while others suffered structural damage," he said.
Isa linked the increasing strength of windstorms in the area to deforestation.
"Trees previously served as natural windbreaks, helping to reduce wind speed and regulate the local microclimate. Their removal through farming, land clearing, and urban expansion has left communities more exposed to destructive winds," he said.
He warned that if tree cutting continues, there will be more severe disasters.
Many residents said this was one of the worst natural disasters Gashua has faced in recent years. They reported that many families lost their homes, businesses, food items, and other valuables.
Some residents claimed that four people died in the incident, but this could not be independently confirmed.
Dr Akinola Adekunle, the Medical Director of the Specialist Hospital in Gashua, confirmed that casualties were treated at the hospital.
"Two people lost their lives, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries," Adekunle said.
He added that all injured victims had received treatment and were discharged from the hospital.
Meanwhile, the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency has sent emergency response teams to check the impact of the disaster in Bade, Yunusari, and Bursari Local Government Areas.
The agency reported that personnel and volunteers from Jakusko, Karasuwa, Geidam, and Nguru Local Government Areas have joined the assessment.
Preliminary findings showed that hundreds of homes were damaged, with most affected being vulnerable households.
Gashua, located near the Yobe-Kumodugu River, is also at risk of seasonal flooding, adding to the challenges for residents after this disaster.
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