A violent windstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc in Obi Local Government Area of Benue State, leaving one person dead and causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure across several communities.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday evening, saw strong winds uprooting trees, flattening buildings, and disrupting movement in affected areas.
Local sources said the worst-hit location was the Obarike community along the Ogore axis, where a well-known female food vendor reportedly lost her life after a fallen tree struck her during the downpour. She was said to have died instantly, throwing her family, customers, and residents into mourning.
The storm also caused major disruption around the Secretariat Road in Ijanke community, where fallen trees blocked roads and raised safety concerns for commuters and residents.
The Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Obi LGA Chairman, Emmanuel Ekpe, confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that the council chairman, Silas Ahunye, visited affected communities for an on-the-spot assessment.
During the visit, Ahunye expressed sadness over the level of destruction and extended condolences to families affected. He also revealed that his own residence was not spared, as parts of his roof and a vehicle were damaged by the storm.
He described the incident as one of the most severe natural disasters the area has experienced in recent times and called for urgent intervention from emergency response agencies and humanitarian organisations.
The council chairman appealed to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), as well as other relief bodies and individuals, to support victims of the disaster.
In a related visit, the Chairman of neighbouring Oju LGA, Jackson Ominyi, also toured the affected areas to assess the damage and commiserate with residents. He urged swift intervention, describing the destruction as unprecedented and deeply troubling.