Residents of Bonke Quarters, Iroye, Odundun, Stadium, Osun Ankara, Ijofi, Bolorunduro, Orogoji, Ilaje, Odiolowo, Oke Jigba, Ijoka, Irojo, Bolorunduro, and some parts of Ilo-Ijesa, among others, are still counting their losses from last Friday and Saturday’s heavy rainfall, which left a trail of destruction in Ilesa, an ancient town in Osun State.
WITHIN NIGERIA visited several locations and witnessed how strong downpours that lasted many hours caused more devastation, pushing people from their homes.
During the visit, a WITHIN NIGERIA reporter saw residents hauling out furniture, chairs, mattresses, rugs, and domestic things that had been wet by torrential rains, which had dislodged roofing sheets from some houses.
This reporter noticed that the torrential downpour caused floods, submerging homes and businesses and entirely destroying several houses, rendering them unlivable, as some people were seen using buckets to take water from their rooms.
Our reporter also witnessed a strong downpour caused by winds, which ripped off roofs, displaced empty water tanks, collapsed wooden and cement buildings such as fences, and snapped electric poles, among other things.
Babafemi Ajayi, a member of Ilesa’s Irojo neighborhood, was hauling out his wet mattress when contacted by WITHIN NIGERIA.
According to Ajayi, the severe downpour began at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and lasted two hours.
Ajayi told WITHIN NIGERIA that it all started with a blowing wind that resembled a restless beast, roaring and swirling.
According to Ajayi, the wind was so strong that it ripped roofing sheets and destroyed walls and electric poles.
While explaining how the severe rain affected his family, Ajayi revealed that he was inside the room with his wife and children when he noticed water falling from the ceiling.
“I looked up to see that a huge piece of our roofing sheets had been blown off. It worsened until our room was flooded with water.
“I had to take my kids to our neighbor’s house because our mattress and chairs were soaked with water,” Ajayi added.
While appreciating the efforts of community leaders, he urged the government, particularly emergency response organizations, to come to their aid.
Omowumi Akande, a mother of three, told WITHIN NIGERIA that she was relaxing on a sofa after returning from work and had barely cooked for the family when her house’s roof collapsed.
According to Omowumi, the torrential downpour penetrated her home and destroyed household things, including electronics.
“I’ve brought my kids to my sister’s house. They will stay with her only momentarily. My sister lives at Coca-Cola. I live in Odundun. I brought some items, including their uniforms, because they will be attending school from her place. We lost some precious goods because we are grateful for life,” she explained.
Another resident, Anjorin Jacob, told WITHIN NIGERIA that the severe rain has left his village in darkness after several electric poles collapsed and shattered.
According to Jacob, the city has been in complete darkness since Saturday evening, which has impacted many businesses, including laundromats and pubs.
Jacob, an Iroye resident, pleaded with the power holding company to intervene and restore power as soon as possible before companies fell completely.
According to Omole Ebenezer, a civil engineer, the torrential rainstorm showed infrastructural deficiencies, such as a lack of an appropriate drainage system.
According to Ebenezer, the rainstorm that caused floods would not have caused as much damage if there had been efficient drainage that allowed water to flow safely from one street to another.
He also added that some drainages have been clogged with rubbish, condemning citizens who randomly dump waste into the drainage system of violating the law and must be arrested and punished accordingly.
Ebenezer, while criticizing the faulty drainage system, said that he has lost track of the houses that have been severely damaged by the torrential rain, which has left people homeless.
He urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA) to respond and assist the people, particularly those in desperate need of food, clothing, and shelter.
“Some residences were extensively damaged. Roofs are missing, and some walls have collapsed. Most landlords inherited these homes and lack the financial resources to repair them immediately. It is a tragic disaster, and we must all feel sorry for the victims,” he concluded.
As of the time of writing, the Osun State Government had not issued a comment in response to the unfortunate incident. Attempts to contact Governor Ademola Adeleke’s spokeswoman via phone and text message were unsuccessful.
WITHIN NIGERIA also contacted the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA). All official lines were unavailable and unreachable at the time of making this report.