Windstorm displaces hundreds in Enugu community, palace converted to shelter
A devastating windstorm has left hundreds of residents homeless in Oduma town, Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu state, forcing many to seek refuge in the palace of their traditional
A devastating windstorm has left hundreds of residents homeless in Oduma town, Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu state, forcing many to seek refuge in the palace of their traditional ruler, now serving as a temporary shelter.
The storm, which struck during a heavy downpour on the night of April 6, swept through agrarian communities including Ukete, Achara, Amaeke, and Mmafu, destroying more than 80 structures comprising homes, schools, and places of worship. Roofs were torn off buildings, leaving families exposed and without shelter.
When journalists visited the affected areas, residents were seen attempting to salvage their belongings amid difficult conditions. Mattresses, clothing, and household items were spread out in the open to dry, even as concerns remained over further rainfall.
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The palace of the traditional ruler of Ukete Oduma, Patrick Oshiekwe, has since become a refuge for displaced families. Dozens of residents now occupy the facility, taking shelter in available spaces while awaiting assistance and a return to normalcy.
Some affected residents have begun constructing temporary coverings over damaged buildings to create makeshift shelters, as uncertainty persists over the timeline for recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Describing the incident as “hurricane-like,” the visibly distressed monarch lamented the scale of destruction, saying the community had never witnessed anything so catastrophic.
“Everybody in this community is battered. Since I was born, I have never seen this kind of disaster,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.
The monarch made a passionate appeal to Governor Peter Mbah, Senator Osita Ngwu, and Chief Anayo Onwuegbu of the House of Representatives, to urgently intervene, warning that continued rainfall on already exposed buildings could worsen the humanitarian situation, especially for residents currently stranded outside the country.
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Corroborating the distress, the President General of the Town Union, Mr. Jeremiah Njoku, said the magnitude of the destruction has overwhelmed the community.
“We are talking about over eighty buildings with serious damage. Our people are living in fear. This is beyond what we can handle,” he said.
Victims narrated heartbreaking stories of loss, with some recounting how investments of a lifetime were wiped out within minutes. For many, the disaster has not only taken away shelter but also their means of livelihood, as farmlands, economic trees, and livestock were destroyed.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has concluded an on-the-spot assessment of the disaster across affected communities in Aninri LGA, including Ukete, Achara, Ameke, and Mmafu.
According to NEMA’s Information Officer in Enugu, Mr. Ezeani Nnanyelugo, the agency, in collaboration with the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, carried out a comprehensive evaluation of the destruction on April 9.
He noted that although no lives were lost, the windstorm left widespread damage to residential buildings, public infrastructure, markets, schools, places of worship, electrical installations, and farmlands, rendering many residents both homeless and jobless.
Nnanyelugo emphasised that the scale of devastation has exceeded the coping capacity of the affected communities, assuring that the Federal Government sympathizes with the victims and is considering relief interventions.
