How Two Escaped Death As Rainstorm Wreaked Havoc In Kwara

Buildings, electric poles and wires; vehicles and political sign posts were penultimate Thursday destroyed by a strong wind storm that accompanied a rainfall in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Two occupants in a moving car narrowly escaped death along AbdulWahab Folawiyo (Unity) road, Ilorin when a political signpost fell on their vehicle during the torrential rain.

The wind storm also damaged buildings in some parts of Ilorin and Oke-Ero local government areas of the state.

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that residents of Taiwo, Unity, Ita Amodu and other areas  in Ilorin metropolis were left counting their losses after the rainstorm wreaked havoc on their properties, including buildings, cars, signposts and shops estimated at  millions of naira.

It was further gathered  that many signposts were brought down, blocking the major road of Sawmill, Taiwo and Unity areas of the metropolis. 

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Kwara State Fire Service however said that the incident did not claim any life, adding that two occupants of a car on which sign post fell on Unity road escaped from the car.

The spokesman  of the state Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle said that the rainstorm damaged many houses in Taiwo Isale,Unity road, Ita Amodu areas among other areas of the of the town.

He said, “what would have been the worst was the fallen political sign posts which fell on a car at Unity road”, adding that, “the occupants of the car had gone down before men of the fire service came to their rescue.”

Adekunle said that the director of the state Fire Service, Prince John Famuyiwa had advised the people of the state to always remain indoor anytime they observed that rain was going to fall.

Famuyiwa also warned vehicle owners and drivers to keep off the streets whenever rain was falling or about to fall for the safety of their lives.

Also speaking on the incident, the Director General of Kwara State Signage and Advertisement Agency ( KWASAA),  Mr Olorunshola Omotayo said the falling signposts had been cleared  from  the road to allow free flow of traffic.

A journalist, Mr Gbenga Olarinoye,  whose in- law’s residence was destroyed by the rainstorm at Stadium road, Ilorin said the situation was devastating.

Olarinoye said an hotel close to his in-laws building was also affected, calling on the state government to come to the aid of the victims.

“ The  rain wreaked  havoc on my in- law’s house and Hotel Flamingo on stadium road. It was devastating. Kindly visit the place, particularly the television crew for the recording and include it in your reports. Thanks for your anticipated support,” Olarinoye cried out. 

Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had sympathized with residents  of the state over the incident.

The governor in a statement signed by  his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye said:  “Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has sympathised with residents of Ilorin and some communities in the state who were affected by the rainstorm and flooding of Thursday night. 

“The governor described the incidents as unfortunate. The Governor is sad about the havocs that the rainstorm wreaked on public and private properties, especially in Ilorin metropolis, Oke Ero, and some other areas.

“The governor is aware of and commends the ongoing efforts of relevant government agencies to evacuate the many fallen signposts and clear the highways for free movement of traffic. 

“While the state government will collaborate with the Federal Government to continually tackle the question of flooding, the government appeals to members of the public to avoid littering the drainages or blocking free flow of water”.

Meanwhile, the relevant government agencies have commenced the desilthing of drainages in Ilorin metropolis to ensure free flow of water whenever it rains.

LEADERSHIP Weekend also observed that works have begun on the dredging of Asa river- the major causative agent of flooding in Ilorin metropolis in order to prevent it from overflowing its banks whenever it rains.