Around 300 households and property valued at millions of naira have been damaged by windstorms in the Ikot Otu and Ikot Ekpene Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.
A photo sent to our reporter shows that the windstorm took off roofs and knocked down walls of buildings in the affected areas.
When reached out to, the Head of Operations at the National Emergency Management Agency, Uyo, Aisueni Mmandu, verified the incident to our reporter.
Mmandu mentioned that some of the victims have found shelter with relatives, while others are staying in churches.
She also stated that the government has stepped in to repair the damaged houses.
“The incident is true. Some are staying with their relatives, some are staying in churches, and the government has swung in to see how they can fix the houses that were partially destroyed so they can get back to their houses.
“For the houses that were destroyed, the government is ensuring that they empower the people to get their houses.”
Additionally, as per a post on the official X handle of NEMA on Thursday, representatives of NEMA Uyo conducted an on-the-spot assessment to determine the extent of the damage and the necessary measures to reduce the impact of the windstorm disaster.
It noted that most of the victims experienced homelessness, unemployment, and disruption of their means of subsistence due to the disaster, which destroyed or damaged homes, residential properties, schools, factories, farmlands, and economic trees.
The statement partially read, “NEMA Uyo Operations officials, led by the acting Head, along with Akwa Ibom SEMA official Isaac Umanna and community leaders, visited the scene of the incident for an on-the-spot assessment to ascertain the extent of the damage and identify the requirements to help lessen the effect of the windstorm disaster.
“The incident destroyed or affected houses, household properties, worship centres, schools, factories, farmlands, and economic trees, leaving a majority of the victims homeless, jobless, and their economic livelihoods disrupted.
“The windstorm affected over three hundred households (300).”
