A severe windstorm ripped through three communities in Edo State’s Akoko Edo Local Government Area on February 1, destroying 179 homes and displacing 2,022 residents.
The violent weather flattened 179 houses, damaged critical infrastructure, and forced 2,022 people from 337 households to flee their homes.
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officials, joined by their Edo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) counterparts, conducted a rapid on-site assessment shortly after the disaster.
Teams documented widespread destruction: roofs ripped off buildings, walls collapsed, electricity poles toppled, and a local school and health centre heavily damaged.
Many victims now shelter with relatives and neighbours while they await assistance.
Residents described terrifying moments as powerful gusts lifted metal roofs and sent debris flying through the air.
Traditional mud-brick homes, common in these rural areas, proved especially vulnerable; several structures crumbled entirely under the force of the storm.
NEMA spokespeople confirmed the figures and stressed the urgent need for relief. Affected families lost clothing, food supplies, and household items.
With the rainy season approaching and climate variability increasing storm intensity across West Africa, local leaders and disaster officials call for immediate humanitarian support, including temporary shelters, food, water, and building materials.
Community members appealed directly to federal and state authorities for swift intervention.
“We need help now—our children have nowhere to sleep, and our farms suffered too,” one displaced resident told reporters during the assessment visit.
Officials urged residents to remain vigilant during this period of unstable weather and promised coordinated relief efforts.
As recovery begins, the incident highlights the growing risks rural Nigerian communities face from extreme weather events.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and coordinate aid distribution in the coming days.
