By Michael Odiah
President Muhammadu Buhari today engaged on a sympathy visit to Bauchi State to sympathise with the government and people of the state over the recent tragic incidents that occurred in the state.
Buhari, who only several months ago visited the city, returned this morning to commiserate with the people over the loss of lives and property.
During the visit, the President commiserated with the people of Azare, in Katagum Local Government Area of the state over the fire out break that gutted a large portion of the Azare Central Market destroying over 700 shops.
President Buhari said that he was in the state to sympathize with the people and prayed Allah to help them bear the loss, adding that the people should not also forget to extend their prayers to the country at large.
Emir of Katagum thanked the President for the kind gesture stressing that President Buhari is a person that has the common man at heart, which is why he took time to come personally for this visit.
Governor of Bauchi state, His Excellency, Muhammed Abubakar who received President Buhari at Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, thanked him for the gesture, adding that the market was built 100 years ago and that calamities have befallen the market before but none can be compared to this one where over 700 shops worth millions were burnt to ashes, but that no life was lost stressing that the source of the fire is still unknown.
The President was also in the State to condole with another set of victims where a windstorm on Saturday destroyed many buildings and schools.
At least two persons were killed and several others injured in a heavy windstorm in the North-Eastern State.
The windstorm, which lasted for over an hour, also damaged several houses blowing off roofs and destroying fences in Bauchi metropolis and its environs.
“Nigerians stand in solidarity with their fellow countrymen in this difficult time as they face the devastation with courage and fortitude. As a fellow human being, I understand your pains and inconveniences as you struggle to pick up the pieces and rebuild your lost houses, schools, markets and places of worship,” he had said on Monday in a statement by his media aide, Mr Garba Shehu.
