Rain Storm kills seven persons in Kogi State

A storm that occured in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, between Tuesday and Wednesday claimed the lives of six persons including a village head identified as Malam Abdulmumuni Mohammed.

It was learnt that the village head was in his house when the rainstorm started between 11pm and 12am.

An eyewitness said the storm, which was later accompanied by a heavy rain, blew off the roof of the palace of the village head, making part of the roof and the building to collapse on him.

“The roof fell on the village head and he slumped and died on his way to a hospital,” the  eyewitness said.

It was gathered that several other people were injured as a result of the storm with many of them treated and discharged at the New Bussa General Hospital.

Property worth millions of naira, including places of worship, schools and livestock, were destroyed by the storm.

The Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Mohammed Dantoro, in whose emirate the incident happened,  was seen engrossed in a meeting with his councillors when  our correspondent called at his palace on Wednesday.

In the second disaster, which took place in Ibbi town, in the Mashegu LGA, flood took over most part of the town, rendering the villagers homeless.

Six of the villagers were said to have been killed by the flood, while no fewer than 500 animals were reportedly killed.

Some of the affected villagers, whose houses were destroyed, resorted to taking refuge in schools and with neighbours.

The Chairman of  Mashegu LGA, Alhaji Shuaibu Kaboji, and the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency,  Mr. Ibrahim Inga, confirmed the incident.

They asked for assistance from the state government to cushion the effect of the disaster on the displaced people.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )