No fewer than 60 houses have been destroyed and 1,800 persons rendered homeless following a windstorm which ravaged five communities of Mbube in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The windstorm, which was accompanied by heavy rain, pulled down roofs and walls of houses in five Mbube communities of Ojerim, Oboso, Aragbang, Nkim, Ogberia-Ochoro and Oboso.
During Metro’s visit to the communities, some of the victims were seen sitting under tree shades and uncompleted buildings.
Electrical appliances, furniture, books and other household property that could not be salvaged from the downpour were seen scattered all over the place.
Some of the victims who spoke with Metro lamented that they now sleep on the floor with mats in uncompleted buildings.
Mr Ekpang Obaje, whose 12-room building was destroyed by the storm, lamented that the incident had caused him untold hardship, appealing for urgent assistance from both the state and federal governments as well as individuals and groups.
The Chairman of Oboso Community, Mr Okate Okim, said the natural disaster had become too frequent in the area, stressing that the communities in Mbube and environs had been suffering from heavy rains and windstorm on a yearly basis.
Assessing the disaster, Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), John Inaku, described the situation as pathetic and promised that the state government would take steps to provide measures to cushion the effect of the disaster.
and then