Residents of Obi Local Government Area of Benue State have been left devastated after a violent windstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall swept through several communities, causing extensive damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure.
The disaster, which struck on Wednesday evening, uprooted trees, tore off rooftops, damaged buildings and disrupted movement across parts of the local government area.
Among the hardest-hit areas was Obarike community along the Ogore axis, where a popular businesswoman reportedly lost her life after a large tree collapsed on her during the storm. Community sources said the victim, a well-known restaurant operator, died instantly.
Her sudden death has plunged the community into mourning, with family members, friends, customers and residents grieving the loss of a woman many described as hardworking and respected.
The storm also created transportation challenges along the Secretariat Road near Ijanke community, where fallen trees blocked roads and posed serious risks to commuters and residents.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Obi Local Government Area, Silas Ahunye, visited affected communities to assess the extent of the destruction and sympathise with victims.
According to a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Emmanuel Ekpe, the council chairman expressed deep sadness over the disaster and extended his condolences to families affected by the tragedy.
Ahunye disclosed that he was also affected by the storm, as parts of his residential building and his vehicle sustained damage.
Describing the incident as one of the worst natural disasters experienced in the local government in recent years, he called for urgent intervention from emergency management agencies and humanitarian organisations.
The chairman appealed to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), relief organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to provide support for victims who suffered losses as a result of the disaster.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of neighbouring Oju Local Government Area, Jackson Ominyi, visited Obi to inspect the affected areas and express solidarity with residents.
Ominyi urged relevant authorities and emergency response agencies to move swiftly in providing relief materials and assistance, stressing that the scale of destruction caused by the windstorm was unprecedented and required immediate attention.
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