A devastating windstorm has destroyed at least 209 houses and affected 216 households across several communities in Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State, displacing more than 1,100 individuals.
The incident, which caused widespread destruction, left 1,145 people affected, damaged 246 rooms, and injured 26 residents, according to Abdullahi Balde, head of the Fika Local Government Emergency Management Committee. Fortunately, no fatalities were recorded. The storm also damaged three public facilities and destroyed significant quantities of farm produce.
Dr. Mohammed Goje, Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA), disclosed the figures during a stakeholders’ engagement session held in Damaturu. The event was part of the National Disaster Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC), organized by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
“In 2025, we experienced a major windstorm incident in Fika LGA which affected over 209 households, including several public buildings,” Goje stated. “We are currently assessing the situation and reviewing possible support interventions for the affected communities.”
According to YOSEMA data, in 2024 alone, Yobe State recorded 28,977 households (68,954 individuals) impacted by windstorms and floods. The disasters also caused 544 injuries and led to 47 deaths across 601 communities in all 17 local government areas.
Speaking at the stakeholders’ forum, the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar—represented by the North East Zonal Director, Yakubu Suleiman—emphasized the importance of disaster preparedness in light of the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and the annual flood outlook released by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
“The engagement aims to implement proactive measures that will help mitigate the impact of climate-induced disasters in vulnerable communities,” she said.
This year’s campaign is themed: “Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Preparedness and Response: Taking Disaster Risk Management to the Grassroots to Save Lives, Restore Normalcy, and Build Communal Resilience Across Nigeria.”
