By Olabisi Kazeem (Imam Ailaka)
EDE (Osun State). Residents of the ancient town of Ede in Osun State are now counting their loses as heavy rain wrecked havoc across the sprawling town and its suburbs.
The affected residents across various communities in Ede and adjoining towns, are calling for help from the government following the devastating thunderstorm necessitating urgent relief interventions.
The heavy rainstorm wrecked havoc in the city, pulling down heavy structures, electric poles, and rooftops of many houses, schools religious houses and others.
Findings by the flowerburdnews correspondent showed that several electric electric poles, many important buildings, and other infrastructures which roofs were blown off flooded and walls or fences uprooted.
Some communities impacted by the disaster were: Ailaka – Olukolo road ; Aworo/ Arainhin area ; Isibo- Yidi road ; Alusekere – Obada area and Oja- Timi along Federal polytechnic road , Agip Ode – Oke down to Oluobinu areas and some villages.
Witnesses who volunteered to speak with flowerburdnews were in a state of disbelief over the incident. They narrated the rainstorm as ” unprecedented” highlighting widespread destruction that has left thousands homeless and critical infrastructures in ruins.
Mr Dhikrullai Tiamiyu of Aworo compound urged the National Emergency Maintenance Agency to come to the aid of affected residents as most of victims would find it difficult to repair their structures in this trying period of Nigeria economy.
He said hundreds of houses, shops were damaged with essential services like electricity and communication severally disrupted and even members of churches destroyed now worshipped under tree- shades and some other inconveniences places.
A community leader, Alhaji Mubasheer Kunle Abass described the situation as pathetic, said that many families were now sleeping in the open, while some were taking refuge with neighbors and relatives whose houses were not affected.
He expressed concern for the displaced residents as many of whom lack shelter and basic amenities. He emphasized the urgent need for aid including shelter, building materials, medical assistance and financial support.
One Mr Salaudeen Amodu, who lives on Areja/ Onikedu street, had the roof of his residence blown off and his apartment was entirely flooded except kitchen.
” The heavy rain and windstorm came without preparation. I thought it was going to be the normal rain but the impact of this one has wrecked me as roof of apartment was ripped open. I had to move my family’s to a friend’s house to go and sleep”, he lamented.
A store owner, Alhaja Idiat Oyeleke who is a renowned business woman in Ede, was also affected by the thunderstorm leaving her bags of rice, gaari, sugar, beans and other goods damaged.
” I have lost 20 bags of rice and other food stuffs. The rainstorm and windstorm as you can see, blew off the roof of my shop. I have lost my investments. How do I pay off my loans?” She asked.
The storm also caused severe destruction to some public and private schools. Tearing off roofs, damaging classrooms blocks and destroying teaching materials, which has halted learning for hundreds of students.
Speaking with flowerburdnews, the head teacher of Young Tajudeen Primary School, Ede, Mrs Adebola Idowu Olusola expressed shock as more than 8 classrooms were affected, living students and teachers stranded.
Stressing further: ” As you can see, some walls have been damaged and cave in. We are deeply saddened by this disaster. The destruction of these classrooms poses a serious threat to our students ‘ education.
” It’s now required immediate interventions from government agencies, community leaders and parents -teachers association (P.T.A) to rehabilitate the facilities and ensure students safety.
Also speaking, Mrs Olatunji Eunice Mubo who is one of the school ‘s senior teachers, called on the appropriate agencies to urgently repair the damaged classrooms.
She corroborated her boss by calling for help from different individuals, stressing that delay in reconstruction could have long term consequences on students’ academic progress.
Responding, a public administrator, Alhaji Abdul Ganiy Amoo Tiamiyu, retreated the governor Ademola Adeleke ‘s commitment to prioritising education system and that system must be supported by infrastructures that is safe and conducive for learning.
We recognize that no meaningful development can take place without a strong and functional education system and that system must be supported by infrastructures that is safe, inclusive and conducive for learning.
Across the state, many of our schools have served communities for decades. They have played their roles in shaping lives, that’s why our amiable and ever ready governor is leaving no stone unturned in renewing, the and repositioning them to meet the demand of modern education.
Some areas visited were Ailaka, Adodo, Areja, Onikedu,Ologun compounds and Ede Muslim burial ground where the Storm caused significant damage by destructing the perimeter fencing and collapsed retailing walls causing grave to sink and create unsafe condition for the visitors.
