Windstorm kills 7, injures 53 in Nigeria's Jigawa State

A severe windstorm has killed at least seven people and injured 53 others across 13 local government areas in Jigawa State, Nigeria, causing widespread destruction to homes and public infrastructure. The storm, which struck shortly after the start of the rainy season, affected 5,403 households in 120 communities, according to state emergency officials.

Hannafi Fagam, the executive secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency, detailed the impact during a briefing on Wednesday, July 8, in the state capital of Dutse. He described the event as the most significant disaster currently facing the state. The fatalities included four deaths in Dutse Local Government Area, with one death each recorded in the Miga, Ringim, and Sule Tankarkar areas.

The storm caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure. More than 47 primary and secondary schools, three hospitals, and two police stations were destroyed, alongside numerous residential buildings. The affected local government areas are Dutse, Miga, Gwaram, Birnin Kudu, Ringim, Kiyawa, Babura, Kirikasamma, Buji, Kaugama, Gumel, Gagarawa, and Sule Tankarkar. Ringim was reported to have the highest number of affected persons,...