Bauchi: Windstorm kills 5, injures 3 traders at Northeast Trade Fair

Following a heavy downpour, windstorm on Saturday night left five people dead while three others sustained varying degrees of injuries at the just concluded Northeast Trade fair in Bauchi State.

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, Usman Abdullahi Koli, said they received six victims with three of them dead on arrival at the trauma center of the hospital, while three others are currently receiving treatment.

“It is true we received certain number of casualties from the scene of the incident, unfortunately two were brought in dead, they had severe injuries from the head to the abdomen and they die shortly after arrival and we have three patients with multiple fracture and they are receiving treatment and gradually improving.

“Once our medical team conclude their report we will provide an update, but at the moment this is what we have on ground.”

Some of the eyewitnesses who were occupying some of the attachment shops at the trade fair lamented the number of buildings and structures destroyed by the windstorm, saying it was a result of the substandard materials used by the contractors, while other say it was an act of God that led 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 and windstorm between 8:30 to nine 9 pm on Saturday night.

“this incident occurred around 8 o’clock yesterday, it was due to heavy downpour and strong windstorm that occurred, and the state government is not happy with what had happened and this is the work of God, its 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 or so now, and people are still doing some little businesses there, it’s not those that participated fully there and occupied those places that are involved in this tragedy, the people should now leave the place, the government has asked them to leave the place,” he said.

“I was there last night, government has put effort, with the support of state emergency management (SEMA) and the fire service officials, they were the ones that rescued the injured ones and those that lost their lives instantly,” he added.