Flood Ravages Osogbo Communities, Residents Count Losses Running Into Millions

Heavy rainfall has displaced several families in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, with affected residents counting losses estimated at between ₦3 million and ₦10 million each after floodwaters swept through their homes, destroying household belongings and, in one case, leaving children injured.

Some of the residents, who described the flooding as unprecedented in their decades of living in the affected communities, appealed to the Osun State Government to provide urgent assistance and take steps to address the recurring flooding.

Speaking with City Mirror, Iyabo Olabisi Olajide, popularly known as Iya Imole, said she had never witnessed such a devastating flood in the 40 years she had lived in the area.

Olajide said she and her family had been forced to abandon their home for about seven days as the flood situation worsened.

“The rain started seven days ago, and we had been packing our things gradually. But it became worse yesterday, and we could no longer enter the house to pack anything,” she said.

She estimated the value of property destroyed, including chairs, mattresses and household appliances, at about ₦10 million, while appealing to the government to assist affected residents.

Another resident, Saani Ayisat, of Iroidunu Street, Baruwa, said floodwater entered her home around midnight, leaving her family stranded and unable to sleep.

“It hasn’t happened before here. This is very critical,” she told City Mirror.

Ayisat said some of her children sustained injuries during the incident, while property worth more than ₦3 million was reportedly destroyed. She called for urgent government intervention and a lasting solution to the flooding in the area.

A nonagenarian, Rauf Oyeniyi, also described the incident as devastating, saying the experience had taken a heavy emotional toll on him.

“I’m not even in my right state of mind anymore since the flood incident happened. As you can see, I’m an old man,” he said.

According to Oyeniyi, the flood destroyed household electronics, furniture and a large quantity of clothing, with his losses estimated at about ₦10 million. He also appealed to the government to assist residents affected by the disaster.

Similarly, Alhaja S.A. Bakare, of Alaafia Tayo Street in the Woleola community, Baruwa area, said the flood caught her family unprepared despite days of rainfall.

Bakare said the flooding began around 2 p.m., adding that she and her children initially believed they could protect some of their belongings by moving them away from the floor.

“At first, we thought we could pack a few things away from the floor and place them on top of the wardrobe and dining table. We left the house and took a stroll down the street, and a few minutes later, people in the neighbourhood called our attention that the flood was beyond control,” she said.

She listed a plasma television, chairs, a deep freezer, wardrobe, shelf and a large quantity of clothing among the items destroyed, putting the value of her losses at about ₦8 million.

Bakare said she and her children had been unable to return home to sleep and were currently staying with neighbours.

“I am a widow and I don’t have anyone to help me,” she said, appealing to the government and well-meaning Nigerians to come to her assistance.