AT least 300 houses were destroyed, and properties worth millions of Naira were lost following a heavy windstorm and downpour in some communities in Katsina State.
The incident, which lasted for about fifteen minutes on Wednesday evening after Asr prayers, saw roofs and rafters flying through the sky.
Among the areas affected are Sabuwar Unguwar Modoji Gabas, Shinkafi, and Kukar-Gesa areas as well as Ambassador Quarters and some parts of Jibia Local Government Area (LGA) among others.
Many residents, including a newlywed couple, were rendered homeless following the havoc.
Some of the victims described the incident as a test from God. They, however, asked the Katsina State Government and others to assist them amidst the lingering economic hardship.
One of the victims, Maryam Muhammad, said, “During the incident, I was just sitting inside the room and I eventually noticed that the only room I had was completely down, resulting in dislocation of my leg and hand bone.”
“Thank God all my children were at Islamiyya school then. We seek Divine and government interventions because I struggled hard and used all my property to raise this destroyed single room,” she said.
Another victim, Mubarak Rabi’u, re-echoed a similar sentiment, calling on the government to come to their aid.
“We are calling on our good government to look into our critical condition to assist us,” he said.
“Although we received this destiny in good faith, as I am speaking, we don’t know where our families will be heading, now that we are living from hand to mouth.”
In the meantime, the Ward Head of Sabuwar Unguwar Modoji Gabas, Aminu Jafaru, has urged the Katsina State Government and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to as a matter of urgency send delegation to assess the level of damage in the area with a view to assist the victims.
“It was a heavy windstorm accompanied by rain which within fifteen minutes, several Houses completely destroyed. We are calling on government and well to do individuals to please come to our aid in this community otherwise many house occupants will become homeless.
“We are indeed in dire need of your kind support, please. We want the state Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, if he comes across this request, to please send a delegation to assess the level of damage here in our community,” Jafaru added.