By hameeed
Over 1,000 households have been displaced in Osun State as flooding ravaged more communities on Wednesday.
Our correspondent, who monitored the situation in Osogbo, the state capital, observed that the worst-hit areas included Gbodofon, Ogo-Oluwa, Omigade, Ijetu, Oke Arungbo, Baruwa and Isale Osun.
In Ijetu, Isale Osun and Oke Osun areas, PUNCH Online observed that more than 700 buildings located close to the Osun River were affected.
Besides residential buildings, hotels, schools and business premises were also affected by the flood.
A house owner in the Ijetu area, Alhaji Teslim Olasunkanmi, who spoke with our correspondent, said property worth millions of naira had been lost to the incident since Monday, when the flood hit houses in the community.
“We toured the affected areas within Ijetu Community; over 500 buildings have been affected already. Those living in the affected buildings have abandoned them.
“Schools, hotels and some business premises were also affected by the flood. We need urgent help to clear the blocked Osun River which passes through our area,” Olasunkanmi said.
During a tour of Oke Arungbo, Gbodofon and Baruwa areas of Osogbo, our correspondent observed that more than 400 buildings were affected by the flood.
At Ogo-Oluwa, about 70 buildings were affected.
Occupants of the affected buildings were observed moving their belongings out during a visit to the area, while five of the affected buildings had already caved in before our correspondent arrived.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Secretary of Aroko Island Community, Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, Akeem Gbadegesin, said the community was arranging temporary accommodation for some of the affected households.
“More than 70 buildings were affected in our community, and five of the affected buildings collapsed this morning. People are still moving out their belongings as of this evening.
“Those of us whose houses were not flooded have been accommodating some of the displaced residents,” Gbadegesin said.
He further said the water level in the affected areas had not receded, adding, “What we heard is that a dam was opened. Even though Osun has not witnessed any rainfall today (Wednesday), the water level has kept rising.”
He appealed to the state government to assist those who had been displaced and find a lasting solution to prevent future occurrences.
Speaking after inspecting some of the affected areas in Osogbo on Wednesday, the Osun State Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Mayowa Adejoorin, sympathised with the victims.
The commissioner, who assured them that “The state government would treat the disaster with the urgency it deserves,” appealed to residents to “Desist from dumping refuse and debris into waterways.”
He further cautioned, saying, “Members of the public should refrain from erecting buildings close to riverbanks and directed town-planning authorities to stop granting building permits for such risky construction work.”
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