Seven Dead, 5,403 Affected as Windstorms Ravage 120 Jigawa Communities

Seven Dead, 5,403 Affected as Windstorms Ravage 120 Jigawa Communities

The Jigawa State Emergency Relief Management Agency (SEMA) has confirmed that no fewer than seven persons have lost their lives, while 5,403 others have been affected following a series of devastating windstorms that swept through 120 communities across 13 local government areas of the state, destroying homes, schools, health facilities, and critical public infrastructure. The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Hon. Hannafi Yakubu, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Dutse on the extent of the destruction caused by the disaster. He said the windstorms, which accompanied the onset of the rainy season, have left a trail of destruction across the state, damaging residential buildings and public infrastructure, including schools, health facilities, and police stations.

According to Yakubu, about 50 schools and health facilities, as well as two police stations, were damaged by the storms, making it the most significant disaster currently facing the state. The windstorms have impacted 120 communities spread across villages and towns in the affected local government areas. The affected local government areas include Dutse, Gwaram, Birnin Kudu, Kiyawa, Babura, Gumel, Kaugama, Ringim, Gagarawa, Kirikasamma, Sule Tankarkar, Miga and Buji. Ringim Local Government recorded the highest number of victims, with 1,182 affected persons, followed by Dutse with 792, Babura with 650, Kirikasamma with 605 and Birnin Kudu with 539. In Dutse metropolis, the heavy rainfall and windstorm destroyed fences, blew off the roofs of houses and shops, and damaged electricity poles and power lines, leaving many communities without electricity for more than 16 hours. The affected areas within the state capital include Gida Dubu, Takur Site, Mobile, Kudi, Dan Masara, Kwaimawa, and Yalwawa.

READ ALSO:

Affected residents of Dutse have described the rainstorms as one of the most destructive in recent times, with many affected families left homeless and now seeking temporary shelter with neighbours and relatives. Maryam Hashim, whose home was damaged, recounted that the rainstorm was so intense that part of her roof was blown away and sections of her fence collapsed before she could comprehend what was happening, and she noted that they were still trying to come to terms with the extent of the damage. For Tukur Malami, a resident of the Yalwawa area, the devastation was particularly painful, as he had spent nearly 15 years building his house, which was not yet completed, though the family had moved in due to high rental costs; he lamented that neighbours had accommodated them for two days yet they had no idea how to begin again, appealing to the government for urgent aid and noting the difficulty of housing his two wives and six children in a neighbour’s home. Abdulkahar Lawal also reported that the storm destroyed his entrance gate and damaged his garden, leaving him shocked to find his gate badly damaged and several plants he had spent years nurturing destroyed.

The intense rainfall immediately exposed the systemic failure of drainage infrastructure in many communities, as channels and culverts designed to divert floodwaters away from residential zones were choked with accumulated waste and plastic debris, which exacerbated the flooding. Some residents attributed the severity of the flooding to the abandonment of annual, community-led drainage clearing exercises and warned that the situation could lead to even more severe flooding if urgent measures are not taken. Hassan Sani advised homeowners to inspect their roofs, gates, and fences regularly to minimise damage during heavy rainfall, and he also urged residents to secure loose roofing sheets and trim trees near their homes. Residents expressed growing concern over recurring storm damage, highlighting the urgent need for better structural maintenance and preparedness during the rainy season.

Yakubu explained that SEMA has been working closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assess the level of damage and coordinate emergency response efforts. Describing disaster management as a collective responsibility, he called on the Federal Government, local governments, development partners, humanitarian organisations, corporate bodies, and well-meaning individuals to support efforts aimed at assisting affected communities. He revealed that, as part of its disaster preparedness measures, the Jigawa State Government had approved more than N800 million for the procurement of emergency relief materials before the onset of the rainy season, adding that the relief materials are being stockpiled to enable the government to respond promptly to emergencies across the state. During a visit to affected communities in Ringim, the council chairman, Hon. Badamasi Garba, confirmed the scale of the disaster and noted that three institutions—the local council, Jigawa State Government, and NEMA—are coordinating relief operations, and all district heads have received orders to work with village leaders in documenting affected families. Dr Nuraddeen Abdullahi, NEMA’s Kano/Jigawa zonal director, arrived in the state to assess damage firsthand, telling reporters the visit aimed to show federal solidarity with victims and measure the destruction for possible federal intervention.

Yakubu also confirmed that an isolated flooding incident was recorded in Miga Local Government Area, where more than 70 hectares of farmland were destroyed. However, he clarified that the incident could not yet be classified as part of the annual flooding season, since major rivers across the state had not overflowed. The SEMA Executive Secretary assured residents that the state government would continue to strengthen disaster preparedness and emergency response mechanisms to minimise the impact of natural disasters and provide relief to affected communities. Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency has warned that more than 148 communities across the state are at high risk of flooding this season and has urged residents in flood-prone communities to take precautionary measures.