Some residents in the Okubuchi Community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River on Monday cried out over the destruction of over 100 houses by a windstorm.
The residents, who spoke with 108scoop.com, said that over 500 households had been displaced from their ancestral homes, saying that they are now seeking refuge in nearby communities.
A community Leader, Mr Anthony Ewah-Obi, who conducted reporters around the affected community in Boki, said the windstorm occurred on July 16.
Ewah-Obi said that properties estimated at N1.5 billion were destroyed by the windstorm in the community.
He said that the disaster had struck the community after a rainfall, pulling down trees, and destroying houses among other economic trees.
“We have not had this kind of disaster before in our community. The windstorm destroyed over 100 houses including economic trees and other valuables.
“As we speak, over 500 households have been displaced as a result of the heavy windstorm. Many of them are now refugees in nearby communities.
“We are looking for the federal and state government intervention because our people are stranded; it is not easy for a man and his family to seek refuge in a house that is not his,” he said.
A victim, Mr Sunday Otu, said that the windstorm also affected school buildings and had also affected their children’s education.
He said that some of the affected pupils have left the community to seek refuge in nearby villages with their parents.
Otu, whose roof was destroyed, appealed to the state and federal governments to come to their aid.
Also, a member representing Boki 11 State Constituency in the Cross River House of Assembly, Mr Hilary Bisong, who visited the affected community, sympathised with them over the disaster.
Bisong called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to come to the aid of the affected community with relief materials to ease their current plight.
Mr Princewill Ayim, the Director General, Cross River Emergency Management Agency, while sympathising with the affected community said he had been briefed on the incident.
Ayim said the agency would soon visit the community for an assessment and thereafter invite NEMA zonal office, South-South, for intervention.
