Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has visited Bama town to sympathise with residents affected by a destructive windstorm that left several homes damaged and claimed lives in the community.

During the visit, the Chairman of Bama Local Government Area, Babagana Barma, informed the governor that at least four people died in the disaster, while more than 1,200 houses were affected.

Governor Zulum announced immediate intervention measures for victims of the incident, including a cash donation of N500,000 to each family that lost a relative in the storm. He also directed authorities to immediately assess the level of destruction in the affected communities to determine further assistance for victims based on the extent of damage suffered.

While addressing residents, the governor cautioned against indiscriminate tree felling, which he described as a major contributor to increasing windstorms and environmental challenges in the region.

According to Zulum, the destruction caused by strong winds and related ecological disasters has been worsened by the continuous removal of trees without proper regulation. He stressed the need for stricter enforcement of existing environmental laws to curb the practice.

The governor also assured displaced residents that his administration remained committed to returning people still living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps to their communities in a safe and dignified manner.

Residents said the storm struck the town around 3 p.m. on Friday, causing widespread destruction across several areas.

One of the affected residents, Mala Bashir, said Gwange and parts of the IDP camp were among the worst-hit locations, adding that the storm damaged properties across the town and left several persons injured.

Another resident, Modu Sheriff, said the windstorm began while residents were preparing for Asr prayers. He explained that the powerful winds uprooted trees and tore roofs from buildings in different parts of the town.

The incident reportedly caused extensive destruction to homes and other properties, leaving many families in urgent need of support and shelter.