Heavy rainfall wreaked havoc in Iloko-Ijesa, Osun State, on Monday, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes and leaving traders counting their losses in the wake of widespread destruction.
While no casualties were reported, the torrential downpour lasting approximately two hours submerged numerous houses, shops, and kiosks, with valuable goods such as cassava, garri, and beans worth several thousands of naira washed away.
The deluge, commencing around 7:20 p.m., unleashed rainstorm that inundated various commercial areas in Iloko. At Oke Adura, shops belonging to fish sellers and food vendors bore the brunt of the rainstorm, mirroring the scene at Osowusi Muslim Commercial High School, where the principal’s office and nearby residences were affected.
The calamity extended to Ilesa Road, where a newly constructed event center collapsed, along with the Redeemed Christian Church of God premises on Ayara Street and L.A Primary School in Iloko-Ijesa.
Pastor Olusola, husband to one of the affected traders, recounted receiving a distress call from his wife urging him to salvage goods from their shop before it succumbed to the rainstorm. Many other market vendors faced similar predicaments, hastily evacuating their merchandise but still incurring significant losses.
Mrs. Osunkeye Florence, another affected trader, lamented the limited time available to salvage goods, resulting in substantial damages to their livelihoods.
Echoes of a similar catastrophe in March 2015 resonated among community members, recounting the widespread devastation inflicted upon homes, farms, and businesses, including the loss of livestock such as rams, goats, and even a large cow swept away by the rainstorm.
In response to the crisis, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe, the Owoloko of Iloko-Ijesa, conveyed heartfelt sympathies to those affected by the calamity, emphasizing the necessity of documenting damages for official assessments and assistance.
Anticipating government intervention, Oba Dr. Ogungbangbe urged affected households and businesses to document the extent of the destruction through photographic evidence, stressing the importance of cooperation during official inspections scheduled for the following day.
Assuring steadfast support, Oba Dr. Ogungbangbe pledged to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and government agencies to expedite recovery efforts, rallying the community together in solidarity amidst the adversity wrought by nature’s fury.
