Residents of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Monday, lost their properties worth millions of naira over the flood following a torrential rainfall that lasted for over six hours.
Mostly affected were residents of Ilupeju, Ita Eku, Ureje, Oshodi, and Temidire Eminrin, a suburb of Ado Ekiti metropolis located along the Federal Polytechnic Road where the flood affected over ten buildings and destroyed properties.
The heavy rain, which began around 10 pm on Sunday and subsided around 3: 22 am on Monday, led to flooding and some buildings submerged in water, forcing residents to temporarily flee their homes.
It was gathered that the incident became worse for residents of the Temidire Emirin community as water from the Ureje River overflown the bank, preventing civil servants and artisans from going to schools and places of work on Monday.
The overflown bridge only subsided around 12:30 pm to give way for residents to have access to the Ado-ABUAD/Fed Poly-Ijan -Ekiti highway that leads to the Ado Ekiti metropolis.
A resident of Temidire Emirin Community and victim of the flood, Mr Jude Ajulo, said they were inside sleeping when the water suddenly surged into their residence around 2 am and submerged their property.
Ajulo revealed that the occupants of the three-bedroom bungalow had to run out when the water level was rising and threatening their lives.
He said: “This has been the occurrence every year. It happened, in the same way, a few years ago before the administration of Mr Ayodele Fayose dredged the Ureje River.
“The only way the government can help us is to dredge the river to be able to contain the running water coming down from Odo-Ado, Oshodi, Ilupeju Avenue to our community.
“It is sad that our property and lives were being threatened every time we experience heavy downpours and this shouldn’t be allowed to continue”.
Another resident of the Oshodi community, along Afao road, Mr Taiwo Osaleye, appealed to the government to dredge the Elemi river that crosses the section to resolve the flood crisis.
“We have noticed that we always experience flooding anytime the Elemi River overflew its bank due to rising water level. The only thing that can bring a permanent solution is for the government to help us expand the river bank so that the safety of our lives and property can be guaranteed”.
The General Manager of the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Olajide Borode, said the agency had started visiting the areas affected to get first-hand information on the extent of damage caused by flooding.
The SEMA boss said: “You all know that the government of Ekiti State is serious about disaster management policy. The safety of lives and property is a priority of the current government and we won’t joke with it.
“Our officials are presently visiting the areas affected so that we can get the correct information that can guide the government’s action in resolving the incident”.
