Rainstorm kills eight in Zamfara

KANO, Nigeria (AFP) – Torrential rains and strong winds killed at least eight people, injured dozens of others destroyed hundreds of homes in  northwestern Zamfara state, officials said Saturday.

Rain accompanied by strong winds swept away hundreds of mud houses in farming villages overnight Friday to Saturday, the state information commissioner, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said.

“Seven villages were affected but the worst hit is Maradun where eight people were killed with over 30 wounded and around 500 houses destroyed,” Birnin-Magaji told AFP on telephone from Gusau, the state capital.

Those forced from their homes were staying with friends and relations, he added.

While rainstorms are normal occur at this time of year, the start of the rainy season in this region at the edge of the Sahara, this was the worst tempest the region has witnessed so far, local official said.

Last week, another rainstorm destroyed 100 homes in neighbouring Sokoto state.