Sad as windstorm kills infant, injures two, destroyed houses in Kebbi

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One of the destroyed houses

By El-Yakub Dabai, Birnin Kebbi

An unprecedented strong windstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall early Monday morning has led to the loss of the life of an infant and hospitalisation of two persons in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State Capital, following the collapse of houses and flying blown off roofs.

Property including furniture, electronic gadgets, household utensils and foodstuffs of millions of naira perished in the disaster in the mostly affected areas of Makerar Gandu, ‘Yar Yara, Bayan Filin Sukuwa, Illelar Yari and Bayan Zinari hotel.

One of the victims, Babangida Usman, informed journalists at Makerar Gandu Area, that part of their building structure collapsed inward burying his three month old daughter, Fatima, alive and died instantaneously.

“At about 2 a.m. Monday morning, I was inside the room together with my wife while our infant daughter was lying on the carpet. As the wind began to blow heavily, my wife stood up to tidy up our household utensils outside, then I gave her a helping hand. We were in this process when the entire part of the rooms from above caved in missing me by inches but buried our little daughter.

“We quickly removed the debris off her but she was not breathing, the little girl has passed on, we take solace in GOD, Who is the Ultimate Creator of life and death, we have succumbed to fate”, he narrated.

However, some residents of Bayan Filin Sukuwa Area of Birnin Kebbi also fell victims of the windstorm as two persons were receiving treatment at Sir Yahaya Memorial hospital for various degrees of injuries sustained in the tragedy, the first of its kind this rainy season.

The Deputy Executive Secretary, Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA), Muhammad Attahiru Giro, told newsmen that the Agency had taken stock of the magnitude of the windstorm and would provide emergency relief to the victims.

“The State Governor, Comrade, Dr. Nasir Idris, who is now in Saudi Arabia performing the Hajj is already aware about the disaster, and has ordered for the provision of necessary succour to those affected as a benevolent and compassionate leader”, Giro announced.