No fewer than two persons have been confirmed dead after a powerful rainstorm swept through the Dokan Mai-Jama’a community in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The storm also destroyed more than 50 houses and displaced many residents, leaving several families without shelter.
According to Channels Television, the Village Head of Dokan Mai-Jama’a, Hamisu Tukur, confirmed the incident, saying the rainstorm caused widespread damage across the community.
According to him, many houses were badly affected, while some were completely pulled down by the force of the wind.
Residents said the heavy rainfall started around 6:41 p.m. and lasted for about 40 minutes.
They said the rain was accompanied by violent winds, which blew off rooftops, destroyed buildings and left household items exposed to the weather.
Several affected residents were seen searching through the rubble of their homes in an attempt to recover useful belongings.
Some of the victims said they were still in shock over the scale of the damage, adding that the storm came suddenly and left them with little time to protect their families or property.
The incident has worsened the hardship faced by many families in the community, as some of the displaced residents are now taking temporary shelter with neighbours and relatives.
The rainstorm also affected Sabon Gyero, a community located within Millennium City in the same local government area.
In Sabon Gyero, several houses were damaged, while more than 10 perimeter fences were reportedly destroyed by the downpour and strong winds.
The storm also caused traffic disruption after a major road in the area was blocked, forcing motorists and commuters to use alternative routes.
Residents said the damage in both communities showed the intensity of the rainstorm and called for urgent intervention from the authorities.
Affected residents have appealed to the Kaduna State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency and the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency for support.
They said many families had lost their homes, food items, clothing and other valuables, and would need urgent assistance to recover from the disaster.
The victims also called for the provision of temporary shelter, food, building materials and medical support for those affected.
One of the residents said the community was in urgent need of help, noting that many victims had nowhere to sleep after their homes were destroyed.
Emergency officials have begun assessing the level of destruction caused by the storm.
A team from NEMA has reportedly been deployed to the affected areas to evaluate the extent of the damage and determine the form of assistance required by the victims.
The assessment is expected to guide further response by emergency agencies and the state government.
Rainstorms are common in parts of northern Nigeria during the rainy season, often resulting in deaths, injuries and destruction of property.
Authorities, including the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, had earlier warned of increased rainfall intensity this year, raising fears of more weather-related disasters in vulnerable communities.
NaijaNews / Tunmise Adesanmi
