Windstorm leaves 2,000 homeless in Cross River

Windstorm yesterday rendered about 2000 persons homeless in five Mbube communities of Ogoja local government area of Cross River State, an official has said.

The communities are Ojerim, Oboso, Aragbang, Nkim and Ogberia-ochoro.

The state director general of Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), John Inaku, described the situation as pathetic and promised that the state government would take pragmatic steps to cushion the effect of the disaster.

Inaku, who appealed for federal intervention, said 36,000 persons have been affected by windstorm and other natural disasters since 2010.

He advised people to take advantage of the rainy season to plant trees around their houses.

One of the victims, Mr. Ekpang Obaje, who lost a 12 room building, appealed for urgent assistance from the state and the federal governments as well as philanthropic individuals and groups.

The chairman of Oboso Community, Mr Okate Okim, described the natural phenomenon as becoming frequent in the area recalling that Communities in Mbube and environs were suffering the problem yearly.