Windstorm wreaks havoc in Abuja

Windstorm has wreaked havoc in Sabon Gari Community in Gbarara of Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, blowing off roofs of residential buildings, destroying crops and electric installations.
The windstorm, which was followed by a downpour on Sunday, also destroyed school buildings, a church and a mosque.
The Village Head of the area, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman, also a victim of the storm, told the News Agency of Nigeria that it was a natural occurrence.
Usman said no life was lost, but that three people sustained injuries and were receiving treatment at the hospital.
He added: “What happened to us was a natural occurrence.
“Sincerely speaking, we are not happy with our present predicament due to the storm, but we take it as an act of God.”
Usman said the storm had destroyed peoples’ farms, buildings and some high tension electric poles, including a structure built for transformer.
“Most of us are farmers and we all depend on our farm produce for survival, but all have been destroyed by the storm,” he said.
The traditional ruler called for urgent assistance from the government, saying the victims had no shelter.
Another victim of the windstorm, Ibrahim Madaki, said three of his rooms were destroyed by the storm.
Madaki said: “We cannot eat or sleep and same for our children.
“Our worship centres have also been pulled down by the storm.”
The Vice Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Alhaji Isah Garba, who described the storm as “serious”, said the matter would be reported to the council chairman for provision of urgent assistance to the victims.
Garba said the issue would also be reported to the FCT Emergency Management Agency and assured the people of the area that the council would also assist the affected persons.