Wind Storm Destroys Farmlands, Economic Trees, Crops In Omuma

A wind storm which accompanied heavy rain fall in Omuma local government area, Rivers State destroyed farmlands, economic trees, crops and buildings estimated at several millions of naira penultimate Saturday.

Also affected by the wind storm was the ancestral tree in the shrine at Umukaewo community in Ohimuoho clan of the local government area.

The Tide investigation revealed that community most hit by the natural disaster were Umukaewo, Umuobuoh, Umueke, Umugwu and Umuagwa.

Speaking in an interview with The Tide, the oldest man in Umukaewo community, Elder Nweke Onyezonwu described the wind storm as a bad omen considering the massive destruction of economic tree, crops and buildings especially the ancestral tree which according to him was as old as the community.

Elder Onyezonwu, who is 90 years old told The Tide that he has not witnessed this kind of natural disaster adding that the incident has thrown the victims into hardship following the destruction of economic trees and crops as well as buildings.

Mr. Solomon Nlebedim, a retired staff of Rivers State Ministry of Agricutlure lamented that his life savings as a civil servant was destroyed by the wind storm following the de-roofing of his family house.

According to him, the disaster has rendered his family of 12 homeless while the economic trees and crops which were the only means of livelihood were destroyed by the natural disaster.

Another victim, Mr Loveday Nwachukwu, disclosed that his four bedroom flat and household items including valuable properties were destroyed by the wind disaster in the community.

Also commenting on the disaster, the traditional ruler of Ohimuoho clan, His Royal Highness, Eze Monday Oluoh, recalled that similar wind disaster occurred in the area in 2006 adding that the recent disaster was more devastating considering the volume of destruction especially buildings and economic trees and crops.

He disclosed that no life was lost during the incident probably because majority of the people trooped out to the polling centres  to cast their votes for the local government election in the area when the rain and subsequent wind storm occurred.

The toyal further therefore appealed to the Federal, State and local governments including relevant agencies to come to the aid of the victims so as to cushion the negative impact of the disaster.

Isaac Nwankwo