Windstorm has killed five persons and destroyed over 1,400 houses in sever communities in Gwadabawa and Kware Local Government Areas of Sokoto state.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirmed the incident, describing the June 18 storm as one of the worst to hit the region in recent years.
According to NEMA, more than 11 communities were affected by the storm, which brought down buildings, uprooted trees, and damaged key public infrastructure.
In Gwadabawa LGA, the storm ravaged communities including Gidan-Kaya, Kililawa, Chimola, Telhe, and Gigane. In Kware LGA, affected areas included Marabawa, Malikawa, Talhi, Bankanu, Karma, and the Kware metropolis.
SEMA’s preliminary assessment revealed that over 1,400 homes were damaged across the two LGAs, displacing thousands of residents. In Gwadabawa alone, 878 homes were destroyed, impacting 1,306 households and displacing approximately 7,836 individuals. Eleven people sustained various injuries in the area.
Tragically, five fatalities were recorded in Marabawa, Kware LGA. Among the victims were two children aged 18 months and three years, identified as the children of Mansur Salihu Talhi. In Kware LGA, 523 houses were reported damaged, affecting 1,403 households and leaving 18 people injured.
The storm also caused significant damage to public infrastructure, including parts of Government Secondary School, Kware, where fences and classrooms were destroyed. Particularly hard-hit areas included Kofar-Barga, where the home of resident Ahmad Abbas was leveled, and the 30-Quarters area, where around 100 houses were affected.
Authorities say documentation of all affected individuals and properties is ongoing. SEMA noted that the collected data will be forwarded to state and federal authorities to expedite humanitarian assistance.
Many displaced residents are currently seeking refuge with relatives and members of the host communities.
