Windstorm have completely demolished over 100 homes in the Okubuchi hamlet of the Boki Local Government Area of Cross River, Nigeria’s south-south.
Over 500 households were reportedly forced out of their homes by the windstorm, and they are currently squatting in nearby settlements.
The windstorm happened on July 16, 2022, according to Anthony Ewah-Obi, a community leader who spoke about the plight of those in the impacted neighborhood on Monday in Boki.
According to him, the windstorm also destroyed property worth N1.5 billion. He further noted that the calamity happened after a heavy downpour that caused trees and houses to be toppled.
“We have not had this kind of disaster before in our community. The windstorm destroyed over 100 houses including economic trees and other valuables.
“As we speak, over 500 households have been displaced as a result of the heavy windstorm. Many of them are now refugees in nearby communities.
“We are looking for federal and state government intervention because our people are stranded; it is not easy for a man and his family to seek refuge in a house that is not his,” he said.
According to Sunday Otu, a victim, the accident also had an impact on the schooling of their kids, and some of the afflicted students are now seeking safety in nearby communities with their families.
Otu, whose roof was also damaged, begged the federal and state governments to help the victims.
Hilary Bisong, a member of the Cross River House of Assembly who represents the Boki 2 State Constituency, visited the devastated area to express his condolences to the locals.
The congressman urged the National Emergency Management Agency to provide aid to the impacted community.
Princewill Ayim, the director general of the Cross River Emergency Management Agency, said that he had been informed of the incident and expressed his sympathies to the victims. He also said that the agency would soon visit the neighborhood to assess the damage and invite the South-South NEMA Zonal office for assistance.
