A devastating rainstorm has destroyed more than 100 houses and displaced scores of families in Tom Gangare community, located in Sopp Ward of Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State. The disaster struck on Sunday evening following a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds, also damaging health facilities, places of worship, and other critical infrastructure, leaving residents counting their losses.
Community Members Speak on the Disaster
A community member, Mr. Bot Felix, stated that property worth millions of naira was damaged during the incident, leaving many affected residents homeless. He explained that the violent windstorm uprooted several trees, many of which fell on residential buildings, worsening the destruction across the community. Many victims remain without shelter, food, and other basic necessities, while appeals for urgent humanitarian assistance continue to mount.
Another community stakeholder, Hon. Dung Danboyi, described the incident as tragic and appealed for urgent intervention from government and humanitarian agencies. According to him, although no lives were lost, the destruction has left many households without shelter and exposed victims to severe hardship. “The level of destruction is overwhelming. Many families have lost their homes and means of livelihood. We are appealing to government agencies, humanitarian organisations, and well-meaning individuals to come to the aid of our people during this difficult time,” he said.
Appeals for Government Intervention
Danboyi called on the Plateau State Government, the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, development partners, and other stakeholders to provide immediate relief materials and support for affected residents. The Councillor representing Sopp Ward, Hon. Gwong Ibrahim, also urged relevant authorities to intervene urgently to cushion the impact of the disaster on victims. He stressed the need for emergency relief assistance, noting that many affected families are struggling to secure temporary shelter and basic necessities.
Local Government Chairman Visits the Scene
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Riyom Local Government Council, Hon. Sati Bature Shuwa, visited the community to assess the extent of the damage and sympathise with victims. Addressing residents, Shuwa assured them that efforts would be made to facilitate assistance and support for those affected by the disaster. He disclosed that a comprehensive assessment would be conducted to determine the extent of the losses and enable appropriate intervention by government and emergency management agencies.
