By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
The much-expected rainfall signaling the beginning of a new farming season turned out to be a bad omen for some communities in Niger state, as over two hundred houses have been destroyed by rainstorms on Friday night.
The rain lasted for close to an hour, the heavy and dusty windstorm and thunder pulled down some electric poles, destroyed some electrical appliances, uprooted some trees, and left some families homeless as their homes were flooded.
In Minna, the state capital, some residents were forced to relocate to safer havens when the heavy downpour blew off their rooftops, some were forced to stay with relatives as drainages linking their area over-flowed its banks, causing the collapse of some houses.
Also in Kuta, the headquarters of Shiroro Local Government alone, NIGERIAN NEWS-LEADER Correspondent learned that 38 houses collapsed and owners of 104 shops affected by the rainstorm counted their losses during the first rainfall in the year, 2022 in the area.
Comrade Salisu Sabo Esq. the spokesperson, of the Coalition of Shiroro Associations (COSA), in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, said about 198 houses were affected in Kuta, the headquarters of Shiroro Local Government alone.
“We went around the town after the rain to assess the situation, we counted no fewer than 198 that were affected, 104 shops, 38 collapsed houses, 4 schools, and 2 Masjids were among the facilities badly affected by the first rainfall this year in the area”.
Also affected, according to the statement, are the Shiroro Local Government Education Authority building, the only Veterinary Hospital in the locality, and the General Hospital which has a substantial part of its roof blown off.
Shiroro is one of the local government areas badly affected by the activities of armed bandits, hence the people are pleading for urgent assistance as the windstorm has exposed many households managing to survive the series of attacks to danger.
Other villages affected, according to COSA, included Gwada, Zumba, Erena, and adjoining communities. They therefore pleading for urgent assistance from the government, well-spirited individuals, and as well corporate organizations.
“We are sending a save-our-soul message to the state government through the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Office of the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management as well as other relevant agencies, to come to our rescue”. NNL.
