Taraba Records Losses From Rainstorm Disaster

For barely a week, Jalingo, the Taraba State capital has experienced epileptic power supply from the YEDC, as a result of a rainstorm which occurred last Tuesday leaving homes, institutions and electrical facilities destroyed.

In the wake of the rains which was accompanied by heavy eastern winds, were fallen trees, damaged roofs and fallen poles, although no life was said to have been lost.

Prominent among places affected were the Government House, The Deeper Life campground and the Taraba State University where the V.C said 40 percent of the buildings were affected.

Our Correspondent who was at the institution to assess the damage reports that so far, over 15 blocks were affected. They include: Faculty buildings, lecture halls, female hostels, departmental buildings, toilets, electric poles, laboratories, staff quarters, the VC’s lodge and the office of the Vice Chancellor.

According to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Tenebe, the storm really caused havoc.  His words: ”the incident is a natural disaster which cannot be controlled by man even as I thank God that no life was lost. 40 percent of our structures were affected including my office. You can see me hanging around the Faculty of Law before my office is  fixed.

“I lost my valuables such as books and official documents. We intimated the State Government  and that is why the Governor was here today to see things for himself. He came with his deputy, Engr. Haruna Manu and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Anthony Jellason.

“The Governor has promised to effect repairs immediately. We are happy because he is a man of his words, we remain grateful to him because he has always been there for us. I pray God to bless him more and more”.

When  contacted, the Director, Works of the University, Jerome Vakkai disclosed that the institution lost 10 electric poles and two high tension poles which were completely  pulled down by the storm. He maintained that the management was making effort to fix damaged parts.

Addressing Staff and Students of the University shortly after the inspection, the Governor thanked the management and students for the warm reception accorded him promising to effect repairs on the damaged structures.

His Excellency inspecting the damage caused by the rainstorm at the University.

In his words,

”I want to thank you for your love and support to this administration, I sympathised  with you over the death of some of your students who were involved in the accident in the republic of Cameroon. Yesterday  upon arrival, I visited the hospital to see those on admission. We thank God that doctors are doing their best and they are responding to treatment.  

“I have also gone round and seen the devastation done by the rainstorm, it is a major damage. I have quantified the damage and promise to intervene immediately so that  students can go back to their lectures. I was told that some of them have started writing their exams and I wish them success”

In a related development, the YEDC  offices in Jalingo were not spared by the rainstorm as both the head office and their branch office were badly affected by the storm.

Conducting our correspondent round their offices, the Area Manager, Helbert Rufus Hanawa, stated that their work station was affected damaging 7 computers, 2 giant printers and the most expensive inverter was affected too.

Hanawa also confirmed that over 70 poles of YEDC were affected by the wind storm, saying that Lau, Zing, Jalingo, Mutun-biyu road and Government House feeders were also not spared.

As at the time of filing this report, Hanawa said that they had already restored half of Mutum-biyu road, full restoration of Jalingo and 70 percent of Government House.

Our correspondent reported also that rain storms, accompanied by heavy winds are normal occurrences in Taraba State at the onset of the rainy season, perhaps due to its proximity to the Sahara and Cameroon Mountains.

It would be recalled that Just a week ago, Wukari, in southern Taraba, experienced an unprecedented rainstorm, where it was estimated that 340 homes were destroyed.