Torrential rainfall has wreaked havoc in Kunini town, Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State, leaving hundreds of residents displaced and critical public infrastructure submerged.

The downpour, which began around 3 o’clock on Thursday, was accompanied by a violent windstorm that uprooted trees, destroyed rooftops, and intensified the scale of destruction. By sunrise, floodwaters had inundated residential homes, schools, farmlands, and even parts of the local hospital, forcing patients and medical staff to flee to safer areas.

A resident told our correspondent “The rain started around 3 a.m. with very strong winds. Before we could understand what was happening, water rushed into our homes. Many of us could not save anything. People are now stranded without shelter.”

Eyewitnesses said several families are taking refuge with relatives or in nearby public buildings, while others remain trapped in partially submerged houses. Farmlands along the River Benue floodplain were also washed away, raising fears of imminent food shortages in the agrarian community.

Local sources confirmed that Kunini Primary School and parts of the hospital in Lau were severely affected, disrupting educational and health services. Relief workers and community volunteers have begun evacuation efforts, though the scale of damage is yet to be fully assessed.

Traditional leaders in the area have appealed to the Taraba State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide urgent relief materials, including food, bedding, and medical supplies, to cushion the suffering of affected residents.

As of press time, officials of the Lau Local Government Council were on the ground conducting preliminary assessments, while security agencies had cordoned off the most dangerous flood zones to prevent casualties.