In Sokoto, it was gathered
that a heavy windstorm in Tundun Yan-Dogo village of Dange-Shuni Local
Government Area, destroyed filling stations, cars and uprooted some electricity
poles in the community while in Lagos, known for its perennial flooding issues,
many streets and houses were affected.
According to reports
emanating from the state, many residents were displaced while property
estimated at billions of naira were also destroyed after the downpours that
started on Saturday, August 27, 2016, and continued till Sunday, August 28,
leaving many homes and streets flooded, just as many Christians could not go to
their various places of worship.
Residents of waterlogged
areas like Oworonshoki, Bariga, Ketu, Ikorodu and Lekki were the most affected,
owing to their closeness to the Lagos Lagoon and the poor drainage systems in
the areas.
In Ogun State, it was
learned that more than 50 houses were affected in the Ita Oluwo area as the
rain pounded unceasingly.
A resident of Alapare in
the Ketu area of Lagos, Pastor Bola Bolawole, narrated how service could not
hold in his church on Sunday just as many houses were flooded.
“We could not access our
church on Sunday even as of 2pm. The road was completely flooded and we were
covered up in water to the waist level. We had to stand by a shop to hold the
service, but the rain still drove us away from the place.
After that, I went on
visitation to some of my members and I saw many of them scooping out water from
their homes.
You can’t go to some parts
of the community right now. Water has completely taken over Bakare and Oriola
streets and other parts of Alapere. Televisions and fridges were submerged by
the floods. Many people have been cut off from their homes.”
Another resident in the
Bariga area, Bolatito Ibiyemi, also narrated that some parts of the community
were not accessible due to the floods.
“The rain has been intense.
Places like Oko Oba, Amodu and Arobadade streets and Ilaje Road, have been
rendered completely impassable. A church in Ayedun Street was flooded and the
members could not hold their service.”
Reacting to the floods that
took over the state, the General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency
Management Agency (LASEMA), Michael Akindele, said the agency received distress
calls from residents of Oworonshoki, Ifako, Ikorodu and Lekki areas.
“Several property and items
worth millions of naira were damaged, but no life was lost. The affected streets around the Oworonshoki
area include Fasasi Ojomu, Ogunyomi,
Abiola, Akewusola, Adebanmwo, Unity, Oduduwa and Agberin streets, among
others, while Hassan Street in Owutu and some other streets were affected in
the Ikorodu area.
LASEMA’s Emergency Response
Team was dispatched for the assessment of the affected areas to avert further
disaster. The flood was exacerbated by blockages of some of the major drainages
in the affected areas.”
It was also a sad tale in
Ogun State as people not only lost their property, but important documents were
also consumed by the flood as it was gathered that more than 200 residents were
displaced after the floods took destroyed about 50 houses on Unity Estate in
the Ita Oluwo area of Ogun State.
A lawyer who lives in the
estate, Paul Idogu, said all his credentials and property were destroyed by the
floods and called for a quick intervention from the state government.
“When I woke up around
12pm, I saw floods entering into my house. I was totally helpless. All my
credentials and documents were submerged by water."
Another resident, Engineer
Christopher Okoro, said he was only able to salvage his television, which was
hung on the wall.
“All other valuables,
including my laptop, clothes, my wife’s credentials, were destroyed. As I speak
with you, I don’t know what to do; I am stranded.”
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