Rainstorm Damages Over 200 Buildings in Jigawa

More than 200 buildings were damaged following a heavy rainstorm accompanied by strong winds that swept through Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, on Saturday.

The rain, which reportedly lasted for more than an hour, destroyed residential buildings, schools, markets, places of worship and other public and private structures. The storm also brought down electricity poles and power lines, resulting in a prolonged power outage across several parts of the state capital.

The flooding caused by the downpour submerged major roads, disrupting vehicular and pedestrian movement, while property worth millions of naira was reportedly destroyed. Residents described the incident as one of the worst rainstorms experienced in recent times.

The Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said assessment teams had been deployed to determine the extent of the damage and identify affected households, adding that efforts were underway to provide emergency assistance to victims.

The incident comes amid warnings by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on the likelihood of flooding in parts of Jigawa during the current rainy season. The agencies have urged residents of flood-prone communities to take precautionary measures to minimise the impact of severe weather.