WINDSTORM: 5 Die, 3 Injured in Bauchi Northeast Trade Fair

From: Adamu IMAM, Bauchi

No fewer than five people have confirmed dead while three others sustained various degrees of injuries as a result of windstorm and heavy downpour on Saturday night at the just concluded Northeast Trade fair in Bauchi state.

Confirming the incident, public relations officer of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi, Usman Abdullahi Koli says they recieved six 6 bodies of victims where three of them dies on arrival to the trauma center of the hospital, while three 3 are currently receiving treatment.

According to Koli, "It is true we received certain number of casualties from the scene of the incident, but unfortunately 2 were brought in dead on the spot. There have been severe injuries from the head to the abdomen and they die shortly after arrival."

"We have three patients with multiple fructured and they are receiving treatment and gradually improving. Once our medical team concluded their report, we will provide you with update, but at the moment, this is what we have on ground."

Some of the eyewitneses occupying some of the attachment shops at the trade fair lamented the substandard nature of the  buildings destroyed by the windstorm, saying that substandard materials were used by the contractors, while others say is the act of God that leads to the death of the victims.

In his response the state commissioner of commerce and Industry Mahmood Baba Ma'aji who is also in charge of the trade fair, confirmed the destruction caused by heavy rain fall and windstorm around eight 8:30 to nine 9 pm on Saturday night.

"This incident occurred around 8 o'clock yesterday, it was due to a heavy downpour and strong windstorm that occured. The state government is deeply concerned with what has happened. It is the work of God and is not something that you put the blame on a contractor or any individual. So this has happened and also affected some part of the metropolis."

"Certainly the trade fair has closed about a week ago or so now, and people are still doing some little businesses there. It is not those that participated fully there occupied those places involved in this tragedy. The people should now leave the place as the government has asked them to leave the place so they take a stand on it," he said.

"I was there last night and government has put effort together with the support of State Emergency Management Agency SEMA and the fire service officials. They were the ones who rescued the injured and those that lost their lives instantly," he added.