Several communities in Suru Local Government Area of Kebbi State have been thrown into hardship following a powerful windstorm that destroyed houses, food storage facilities and property worth millions of naira.
The storm, which struck on Wednesday night, reportedly caused widespread destruction across many villages, leaving scores of families homeless and forcing residents to seek temporary shelter with relatives and neighbours.
Communities affected by the disaster include Sambera, Jeroki, Becinga, Nassarawa, Tunga Soja, Tauken Mage, Tunga Muminu Oro and Ciwan Wanzam.
Residents said the strong wind was accompanied by heavy rain and lasted for several hours, tearing off rooftops, damaging buildings and destroying food supplies stored for household use and farming activities.
A member representing Suru Constituency in the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Faruku Abubakar Maisudan, visited the affected communities on Thursday to assess the extent of the destruction and sympathise with victims.
Speaking during the visit, the lawmaker described the incident as painful and unfortunate.
He said many families lost valuable property and essential household items during the storm.
According to him, several houses were either partially damaged or completely destroyed by the strong wind.
Maisudan confirmed that no life was lost in the incident, a development many residents described as a miracle considering the scale of destruction recorded in the communities.
“My heart goes out to you in this difficult moment, and I urge you to accept it as a trial from Almighty Allah,” the lawmaker told affected residents.
He assured victims that their plight would be brought to the attention of the Kebbi State Government and other relevant authorities for urgent intervention.
“I will ensure your condition is presented to the appropriate authorities so that immediate support can reach you without delay,” he said.
Officials of the Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency, who accompanied the lawmaker on the assessment tour, also promised quick response and support for the affected communities.
The officials said arrangements were being made to provide relief materials including food items, temporary shelter materials and other basic needs for displaced families.
Some victims who spoke during the visit described the incident as one of the worst storms they had witnessed in recent years.
A resident of Sambera community said many families were caught unprepared when the storm began late in the evening.
“We suddenly noticed strong winds and heavy rain. Within a short time, roofs started flying away,” the resident said.
“Some people ran out of their homes to save their lives while others stayed in the rain because their houses collapsed.”
Another resident from Becinga community said food items stored after harvest were destroyed when storage facilities collapsed during the storm.
“We lost grains and many household items. Some families now have nowhere to sleep,” he said.
The latest incident has once again highlighted the growing impact of extreme weather conditions in several parts of Nigeria.
In recent years, many states across the country have experienced severe windstorms, flooding and heavy rainfall linked to changing weather patterns and climate challenges.
Northern states, especially rural farming communities, are often among the worst affected because many houses are built with mud and light roofing materials that are easily damaged by strong winds.
Natural disasters such as windstorms and floods have continued to affect farming activities, food security and livelihoods in many communities.
Kebbi State, which is largely agrarian, has faced repeated environmental challenges over the years, including floods and windstorms that affect rural communities during the rainy season.
The state is one of Nigeria’s major producers of rice, millet and other agricultural products.
However, recurring natural disasters have continued to threaten farming and economic activities in several local government areas.
The National Emergency Management Agency and state emergency agencies have repeatedly advised residents in flood-prone and vulnerable areas to take preventive measures during periods of heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Authorities also encourage communities to strengthen buildings and avoid staying under weak structures during storms.
Humanitarian organisations say disasters such as this often leave rural families vulnerable because many victims lose not only their homes but also food supplies and farming materials needed for survival.
For many families in the affected Kebbi communities, the immediate concern is finding shelter and rebuilding damaged homes before more rainfall occurs.
Community leaders have appealed to the state government, wealthy individuals and humanitarian groups to come to the aid of victims.
They warned that many affected families may face serious hardship if urgent support is not provided quickly.
Residents also called for long-term measures to reduce the impact of future disasters, including stronger housing structures and improved emergency response systems.
The Kebbi State Government has yet to officially announce the scale of assistance to be provided to victims, but emergency officials say assessments are ongoing.
As residents continue to count their losses, many families remain hopeful that government support and relief materials will arrive soon to ease their suffering.
For now, affected communities are struggling to recover from the destruction caused by the storm, while local authorities continue efforts to determine the full extent of the damage.