Residents of Obi Local Government Area in Benue State are counting their losses after a powerful windstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall swept through several communities, destroying homes, businesses, roads, and public infrastructure.
The disaster, which struck on Wednesday evening, uprooted trees, damaged residential and commercial buildings, and disrupted movement across parts of the local government area.
One of the worst-hit locations was Obarike community along the Ogore axis, where a well-known businesswoman reportedly lost her life when a large tree collapsed on her during the storm. Sources in the community said the victim, who operated a popular restaurant in the area, died instantly.
Her tragic death has left family members, friends, customers, and residents in deep mourning, with many describing her as a respected and hardworking member of the community.
The windstorm also caused major disruptions along the Secretariat Road near Ijanke community, where fallen trees blocked access routes and created safety concerns for motorists and residents.
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Obi Local Government Chairman, Emmanuel Ekpe, the council chairman, Silas Ahunye, expressed sorrow over the incident after visiting affected communities to assess the level of destruction.
Ahunye sympathised with victims and families impacted by the disaster, revealing that he was also affected, as parts of his residence were damaged and his vehicle suffered destruction during the storm.
Describing the incident as one of the worst natural disasters experienced in Obi LGA in recent years, the chairman called for urgent assistance from emergency response agencies and humanitarian organisations.
He appealed to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), humanitarian groups, and well-meaning individuals to provide relief materials and support to residents whose homes and livelihoods were affected.
In a show of solidarity, the Chairman of neighbouring Oju Local Government Area, Jackson Ominyi, also visited Obi to inspect the damage and sympathise with victims.
Ominyi urged relevant authorities and emergency agencies to respond swiftly, stressing that the scale of destruction caused by the windstorm was unprecedented and required immediate intervention to help affected residents recover from their losses.
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