From Paul Orude, Bauchi
Five people were killed while three sustained injuries in Bauchi State following a downpour last Saturday night.
The Public Relations Officer of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi, Usman Abdullahi Koli, said three out of six victims brought to the trauma centre of the hospital died, while three were receiving treatment.
“Two of the victims who were brought in died on the spot due to severe head and abdomen injuries, while three patients with multiple fractures are receiving treatment and gradually improving. Once our medical team concludes its report we will provide an update, but, at the moment, this is what we have on ground,” Koli said.
Meanwhile, shop owners at the North East trade fair hosted by Bauchi State are lamenting over the destruction of the buildings by the wind. The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mahmood Baba Ma’aji, who is also in charge of the trade fair, confirmed the destruction caused by heavy rain and windstorm around 8:30 to nine 9pm on Saturday night.
“This incident occurred around 8 o’clock, yesterday; it was due to a downpour and strong windstorm that occurred, and the state government is not happy with what had happened. It is the handiwork of God and not something that you put the blame on a contractor or any individual, so this has happened and, also, affected some parts of the metropolis.
“I was there last night; the government has put effort together with the support of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the fire service officials to rescue the injured ones and recover the bodies of those who lost their lives instantly,” he said.