- Ondo residents count losses as rainstorm wreaks havoc
From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
What many had believed would be a blessing for them eventually turned to a curse as a downpour, which lasted two hours recently made hundreds of people homeless in AKure, Ondo State.
Those affected by the disaster occasioned by the rainstorm that followed the downpour have bitter tales to tell. Many of the victims are today living with friends, relatives and neighbours.
The incident led to the destruction of more than 60 houses. The Akure City Stadium was not even spared. The roof of the stadium was blown off, just as many properties were destroyed in the complex and other valuables worth millions of naira affected.
Not many residents of Akure who witnessed the rain believed that it could end up in catastrophe as the rain lasted for a short time.
The most affected areas of the city included Gaga, Oke Aro, Orita Obele and Gbogi where it wreaked serious havoc. While some of the houses were partially affected, many had their roofs completely blown off. Also, some vehicles were trapped under fallen trees.
The incident also brought total blackout to the affected areas as electric poles and wires were destroyed. Many of the areas where the rain wreaked havoc are still in darkness as at press time although, efforts were being made by the authorities of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), to restore electricity into the areas. Also affected were worship places such as churches and mosques, just as schools and other social and commercial centres were affected by the disaster.
Head of Gaga community, Mr. Oluwole Omotoso, lamented the havoc done by the rainstorm. He urged Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and other relevant agencies of government to assist the community with relief materials:
“This incident came to us as a shock. It is very unfortunate that this could happen to us at this time when things are not easy in the country. That is why we are calling on our state government to assist us. We are begging.”
He explained that the residents contacted lawmakers representing the constituencies at the state and National Assembly to come to the aid of the affected people in the area, but no meaningful result has been achieved, hence the call on the state government and spirited individuals to assist them.
Another resident, Helen, said she lost her property to the rainstorm and now lives with her children inside a church: in the area and stressed the need for the government to provide assistance to all victims of the disaster:
“It has not been easy coping with the situation. I was not at home when the incident happened but my children who were at home called my attention to the unfortunate incident before I returned. We lost most of our valuables to the rainstorm and as a matter of fact, we don’t have a place to sleep now.
“There is no body to accommodate us. We live inside a church and the church members provide foods and other materials we need. The clothes we are wearing were given to us by some members of the church. The government should please assist us to return home as soon as possible.”
Mr. Idowu Babalola said the wind, which accompanied the rain wreaked the havoc experienced by residents of the area and not the rain. He said the rain did not last for long, saying that the wind blew off many houses, a development that led to flood in some areas:
“Some friends have come to my rescue and that is why you can still find us here, otherwise we would have relocated to a friend’s house. It was an unfortunate experience because the incident caused a lot of disturbances for the family before we could be settled.”
He called on the state government and the National Emergency Maintenance Agency (NEMA), to provide succour for the affected victims, for according to him, many of them are pensioners and petty traders who have no strong means of livelihood.
Although no life was lost to the incident, it was gathered that a woman narrowly escaped death in the stadium.
The Deputy Governor, Mr. Ajayi Agboola, who visited the scene of the incidents alongside other top government officials identified with the victims, saying government would assist the victims of the incident. While assuring that the Akeredolu administration would take steps to avert such incident in future, the deputy governor urged the people to plant trees around their residences to avoid storm.
Also, the consultant to the state government on Information, Mr Yemi Olowolabi, after visiting all the affected areas, said: “We have compiled our report on the development and I can assure you that the state government will do the needful.
“We cannot blame anybody for this kind of incident because it was a natural one. We can only advise our people to do everything possible to avert such occurrence in the future.
“On our part as a government, we will do everything within our capacity to ensure that such incident does not repeat itself in any part of the state.”