The Kebbi State Government, led by Governor Dr. Nasir Idris, has pledged its commitment to assisting the victims affected by a severe rainstorm that ravaged over 100 houses in Zauro town, located in the Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area.
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafidan Yauri, conveyed this assurance during a sympathetic visit to the affected residents on Saturday.
Expressing deep sympathy on behalf of Governor Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, who is currently on a holy pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafida assured the victims that immediate relief measures would be provided by the government to alleviate their hardships.
He emphasized that it is customary for the administration of Governor Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, to extend assistance to those affected by calamities.
Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafida also stated that discussions would be initiated promptly with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Hydro Power Producing Development Areas Commission (HYPPADEC) to determine further actions that can be taken to support the victims.
Alhaji Shafi’u Zauro, the Special Adviser on Special Duties to the governor and an indigene of Zauro, informed reporters at the scene that the Governor had instructed him to mobilize SEMA and other relevant authorities immediately for on-the-spot assessments and to provide aid to those affected.
Furthermore, the Executive Director of SEMA, Engr. Abbas Rabi’u Kamba, confirmed that the agency had documented the affected individuals and assessed the extent of the damage. Plans were being made to provide food items and building materials to the victims.
Engr. Abbas Rabi’u Kamba also urged both urban and rural residents to prioritize tree planting as a preventive measure against the destructive impact of windstorms.
Similarly, the Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa Katuka, expressed satisfaction with the swift response of the Kebbi State Government and announced the commission’s collaboration with SEMA to bring relief to the victims.
One of the affected individuals, Alhaji Aliyu Tsoho Zauro, recounted how his house was destroyed by the powerful winds and loud thunder that preceded the disaster.