By Emmanuel Onyedika
Three people have died and 5,403 others were affected following a windstorm accompanied by heavy downpour in Jigawa State.
The Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Hannafi Yakubu, confirmed the incident to journalists in Dutse on Wednesday.
He said the disaster impacted 120 communities across 13 local government areas, affecting 47 public schools, three health facilities and two police stations. Yakubu explained that the agency compiled the data of casualties and properties affected from the onset of the rainy season to date.
The affected LGAs include Dutse, Gwaram, Birnin Kudu, Kiyawa, Babura, Gumel, Kaugama, Ringim, Gagarawa, Kirikasamma, Suletankarkar, Miga and Buji.
Yakubu noted that the state government had distributed relief items to victims to ease their suffering. He also appealed to philanthropists, wealthy individuals, corporate organisations and donor agencies to assist the affected communities.
“Disaster is for everyone, so all must assist to arrest the situation. SEMA, with support from the state government, is ready to assist victims whenever disaster strikes,” he said.