President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday commiserated with people of Bauchi State over the calamities that befell residents of Bauchi metropolis and Azare town.

Speaking at the palace of Emir of Bauchi when he paid him a condolence visit on behalf of the Federal Government, Mr Buhari urged those affected not to lose faith, but consider the calamities as an act of God.

The president, who spoke briefly, prayed to God for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives.

Earlier in his remarks, Emir of Bauchi, Mr Rilwanu Adamu, had described the windstorm that occurred in Bauchi and the fire incident in Azare, as tragedies of enormous magnitude.

He thanked the president for ‘squeezing’ time out of his very tight schedule to come and commiserate with the people of the state, adding that the gesture is a demonstration of his love for the state.

Also in his remarks, Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi thanked the president for his concern.

After landing at Bauchi Airport at about 9 a.m., the president headed straight to Azare town to sympathise with the people over a market fire disaster that destroyed no fewer than 700 shops.

While in Azare, Buhari paid sympathy visit to the paramount ruler, Mr Umar Faruk, and visited Azare Central Market, scene of the disaster.

The Bauchi windstorm occurred on Saturday, while the Azare incident happened the next day.

As at the time of the visit of the president, both Nigeria Red Cross and the State Emergency Agency were still collating facts on lives lost and property destroyed.

PT