Hundreds Displaced, Property Destroyed As Rainstorm Wrecks Havoc In Osun

A fierce rainstorm on yesterday destroyed property worth several millions of naira in many part of Osun State, as hundreds of residents were displaced.

In Osogbo, the Osun state capital, areas affected include: Oke-Baale, Gbonmi, Isale-Osun, Kelebe, Ofatedo, Igbona, Oke Onitea among others.

The rain, which started at about 7:10 pm continued heavily for over three hours, and uprooted scores of electric poles, throwing many communities into darkness.

Many residents remained stranded after losing the roof of their buildings to rainstorm, while traffic was obstructed by electric poles, which fell across Kajola street, in Balogun-Oke Bale area of the metropolis.

Speaking with PREMIER NEWS in Osogbo, a victim of the disaster, who is also the head of Kajola community, Chief Tiamiyu Ibraheem said it was a terrible experience for residents of the area.

He said though, no cases of casualty were recorded, he had personally lost close to one million naira worth of property to the incident.

He said they have called the electricity company to come and remove the poles that fell during the downpour.

At Kelebe area, no fewer than 40 houses were affected, including a newly built
Chris Apostolic Church, Oke Ase, which its roof fell into the compound of an Islamic leader, who holds sway as the Grand Imam of Ansarudeen Mosque in the area, Alhaji Yunus Sanusi Imogbemi and damaged his car.

The Pastor of the church, Mr Oshunsina Abel called on the state government and other stakeholders to come to his aid, likewise the Imam, who said the church must not be left there in rumbles.

Meanwhile, the General Manager, Osun State Emergency Management Agency OSEMA, Oluyemi Olanrewaju, in his reaction, said the agency has directed the affected people to come forward and make official complaint for necessary action.

He however lamented lack of funding to make provision for intervention in anticipation of such natural disaster, adding that the agency is almost grounded to the extent that there is no single operational vehicle in the agency for inspection.