A powerful rainstorm struck Itobe District in Kogi State’s Ofu Local Government Area on Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction. The storm ravaged over 500 homes, displacing numerous families and leaving them without shelter.
The heavy rains and strong winds also damaged schools, health centers, churches, mosques, and electric poles, leading to significant property losses worth millions of naira. Many residents sustained injuries, further compounding the hardship faced by the affected communities.
Reacting to the disaster, the Ejeh of Ofu, Akwu Obaje, described the devastation as overwhelming and called for immediate assistance. He noted that six villages—Itobe, Adumu, Oladebu, Ajegwu, and Itagidi—were particularly hard-hit.
“The situation is dire, with buildings unroofed, trees uprooted, and power lines downed,” Obaje stated. “Many families are now homeless, and the community urgently needs relief.”
He urged the government and well-meaning individuals to take swift action in supporting the victims.
“This is a time for collective effort. We appeal to both government agencies and private individuals to provide aid to help these families rebuild their lives,” he added.
Survivors of the storm, including Atabo Okolo from Oladebu, Momoh Alifiya from Adumu, and Usman Gene from Itobe-Niniya, also pleaded for immediate intervention.
“We are already struggling with economic challenges, and this disaster has worsened our situation. We desperately need government support to rebuild,” Okolo emphasized.
Gene echoed this sentiment, urging authorities and relief organizations to step in and assist affected communities.
The storm has left residents in urgent need of shelter, medical care, and food supplies, with vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly facing severe difficulties.
