Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
DUTSE, Jigawa State – A devastating windstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall has unleashed a trail of destruction across Jigawa State, killing at least seven people, injuring more than 1,400 others, and affecting over 5,400 residents in what officials have described as one of the worst weather disasters to hit the state this year. The storm, which struck shortly after the onset of the rainy season, swept through 120 communities across 13 local government areas, destroying homes and critical public infrastructure including schools, healthcare facilities and police stations.
The Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Relief Management Agency (SEMA), Hannafi Yakubu, confirmed the grim toll while briefing journalists in Dutse on Wednesday, 8 July 2026. According to Yakubu, four of the fatalities were recorded in the state capital, Dutse, while one death each occurred in Miga, Ringim and Sule Tankarkar local government areas. The storm also left 53 people injured, many of whom are receiving treatment in hospitals across the affected areas.
The destruction has been widespread and severe. At least 47 primary and secondary schools, three hospitals, and two police stations were either destroyed or severely damaged, disrupting education, healthcare and security services in the affected communities. Residential buildings across the 13 LGAs – including Dutse, Miga, Gwaram, Birnin Kudu, Ringim, Kiyawa, Babura, Kiri-Kasamma, Buji, Kaugama, Gumel, Gagarawa and Sule Tankarkar – have been reduced to rubble. In Miga Local Government Area alone, an isolated flooding incident destroyed more than 70 hectares of farmland.
Yakubu disclosed that Ringim Local Government recorded the highest number of victims, with 1,182 affected persons, followed by Dutse with 792, Babura with 650, Kirikasamma with 605 and Birnin Kudu with 539. The devastation has left thousands of families homeless, with many survivors now sleeping in the open or taking refuge with relatives.
For survivors like Ibrahim Musa and Simon Lawan, the storm stole everything in a matter of minutes. “We lost our houses, household belongings and means of livelihood,” one survivor told Newswatch. Binta Abdullahi, a widow and mother of three, now faces a daily struggle for survival after the wind tore off the roof of her house, leaving her family without shelter. “Whenever it rains, she and her children have nowhere safe to stay,” the report noted.
In response to the unfolding humanitarian crisis, the Jigawa State Government has approved funds for emergency intervention and the distribution of relief materials to affected victims. Yakubu revealed that the government had earlier approved more than N800 million for the procurement of emergency relief materials before the onset of the rainy season, and these supplies are now being stockpiled to enable a prompt response. The agency is also working closely with the National Emergency Management Agency to assess the full extent of the damage and coordinate relief efforts.
However, Yakubu stressed that disaster management is a collective responsibility and appealed to the Federal Government, development partners, humanitarian organisations, corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to support the state’s intervention efforts. “We call on the Federal Government, local governments, development partners, humanitarian organisations, corporate bodies and individuals to support affected communities,” he said.
The windstorm struck as Jigawa was already on alert for the annual rainy season, but Yakubu clarified that the state had not yet experienced widespread flooding. “We are yet to witness widespread flooding, but the windstorm alone has caused extensive damage across several local government areas,” he said. He explained that the incident in Miga could not yet be classified as part of the annual flooding season since major rivers across the state had not overflowed.
As climate-related disasters become more frequent across Nigeria, emergency officials say stronger preparedness, resilient infrastructure and faster humanitarian support will be critical to protecting vulnerable communities. For the thousands of displaced residents of Jigawa State, the immediate need is shelter, food, and medical care as they begin the difficult task of rebuilding their shattered lives.
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