Floods Dislodge Residents, Wreak Havoc In Osogbo

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

…As Govt Assures Victims Of Its Support, Urges Citizens To Remain Calm

Some residents living in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have had their property destroyed by a flood that ravaged a section of the capital city, on Tuesday.

Those most affected were landlords at Onireke, Obate, Awosuru, Sadiat, Testing Ground, Atimowa in Osogbo, where the flood had surged into numbers of buildings and destroyed property worth millions of naira

Some homeowners had their property destroyed by floods, as our correspondent observed many residents lamenting the loss of their belongings.

CityMirrorNews gathered that a 3-hour downpour started around 8 pm and lasted till around 11 pm.

Businesses dealing in cement, flour, pharmacy, Gas stations, bakeries, boutiques and provisions stores were affected including churches. Residential houses were also destroyed. The flood reportedly sacked residents of the areas from their houses.

Some of the affected business persons who spoke with CityMirrorNews begged the government for interventions.

A shop owner at the Onireke area, Ishola Mutiu who sells electronics said the rain started around 8 pm. “I was in my shop when the rain started but I didn’t know it was going to be like this.

“The flood took over everywhere, it was God’s intervention that saved all of us here,” he said.

While estimating his loss, Mutiu said items destroyed in his shop were worth around N5 million.

Residents of the area told our Correspondent that they could not sleep in their various houses as they ran for safety on Tuesday night.

A shop owner at Obate area, Alhaji Agboola Owoniyi who sells cement said the rain was too heavy, hence they could not take anything from the shop.

“The flood took over this upstairs and this road. I just stock my shop, the water affected some of the bags of cement worth about N400,000.”

Another businesswoman who sells bags of rice and groundnut oil, Ogunyemi Jumoke who was in tears told our correspondent that she could not estimate her loss at the moment and begged for government’s intervention.

“There is no hope for me, my tools have been damaged by water while my shop has also collapsed. Some of the beauty items that I am selling have been washed away by the flood. I beg the government to show mercy on us here,” a hairdresser, Sanusi Kafayat cried out.

Reacting, the state government of Osun under the leadership of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola assured the citizens of the state, urging them to remain calm.

The Government in a statement signed by Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, and made available to CityMirrorNews, assured victims of flood disaster that government was already assessing the impact of the flood .

Egbemode said: “The Government of the State of Osun wishes to call for calm among citizens, and assure victims of Tuesday’s flood disaster in the state that government is already assessing the impact of the flood .

“Government has activated its emergency response system, comprising stakeholders in disaster management, which include environmental management officers, health workers and security agencies, to respond efficiently to the incident where necessary.

“The government therefore appeals to those who this sad incident has affected in any way to remain calm and await prompt and lasting solution in the overall interest of the state. Citizens are also advised to be vigilant in the wake of the season’s downpour of varying intensity, and desist from unsafe waste disposal which poses greater hazards to the environment.

“The government is mindful of its responsibilities to protect lives and property under all circumstances, and it shall continue to do so at all times.