By David Dari,  Keffi

Two staff of Nigeria Farmers Group and Cooperative Society, Ga’ate farm center, in Kokona local government area of Nasarawa State have lost their lives, with 15 others sustaining various degrees of injury as a result of rainstorm that also destroyed properties worth millions of Naira on the farm on Tuesday.
The deceased persons were identified as Naomi Audi and Rabiu Yaro Sodangi attached with the rice processing unit of the farm

Briefing newsmen in his office on Wednesday, the Managing Director and Chief  Executive Officer of the farm, Mr. Redson Tedhekhe, stated that the two affected staff met their untimely death when the  windstorm pulled down the building they were inside while they were trying to evacuate some of the farm products inside the rice building.

Mr. Redson expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident, stating that the 15 injured staff were rushed to the Mumbasa Medical center, Keffi, were doctors stabilized them and expressed hope that they would recover soon.

He, however, assured that in recognition of the dedication and commitment demonstrated by the two late staff of the farm, their salaries would run for one year while those injured would be treated by the farm and their salaries would continue to run to until they return to their duty posts as part of the insurance scheme.

Speaking about the safety measures taken by the farm to mitigate future occurrence of the unfortunate incident, the managing director of the farm stated that they are going to plant fast growing economic trees as well as train and retrain their staff on safety measures to be taken both on the farm and in their own personal farms.

While describing the deceased as committed ‘farmrades’, he condoled their families and loved ones saying that they would continue to be remembered and honoured by the farm especially given that their contributions were highly remarkable.

Mr. Redson then appealed to other staff of the farm to continue to be dedicated to their duties of feeding the nation, assuring that their labour and commitment would never be in vain.

Meanwhile, the Abaga of Toni Chiefdom, HRH Lawrence Sylvester Ayih Oho II, the Kokona Local government council chairman, Hon Saidu Kurki, the council’s secretary, Hon . Augustine Ogaba amongst other prominent personities have gone to the farm to condol with them over the unfortunate incident which they  described as catastrophic and very  unfortunate.