Date: 2019-04-19

One of the buildings distroyed by the rainstorm. As the rainy season set in many residents of Kwara have continue to groan over damaged caused to their homes as a result of rainstorm that pulled down roofs of their houses.

Several roofs of houses, shops and schools were blown off following a torrential rainstorm across the state in the last one week.

The rainfall, which started peacefully around 7 p.m. on Sunday and lasted for about three hours.

It was later accompanied by a heavy storm which blew off roofs, uprooted tree branches and damaged electricity poles and cables.

Some of the houses affected are located along Taiwo Road, Agan-Oru market and Okore, Ile-Nla Area in Ilorin.

Two elderly persons were said to have been injured by falling roofing sheets and planks during the rainfall.

Also on Monday evening in Ilorin, many roofs were pulled down by windstorm before the rain started which flooded many areas of the capital city.

Taiwo Road and Unity Road, Irewolede roads were taken over by the flood leaving many commuters stranded in the gridlock that lasted several hours.

Most of the street lights on Ilorin roads were pulled down while owners of shops and houses affected were seen picking what was left of their wares.

Similarly our correspondent, who went round to monitor the development, saw some of the victims were salvaging their property from the affected houses.

Many victims had already hired the services of carpenters to renovate their buildings.

The Bussiness Manager, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Omu-Aran Bussiness Hub, Mr Abiodun Ogun, said his men had swung into action in order to repair the affected poles and cables pull down by the storm.

"My men from the Fault Detection and Repair Section are already on the field and it is hoped that electricity supply will be restored very soon.

"We are, therefore, appealing to our teeming customers for their understanding in this circumstance," he said.

A victim of the rainstorm, Mr Adelodun Adewale, said that it was a divine intervention that his family escaped the impact of the falling roofing sheets and planks following the storm.

"We had already retired to the bedroom when the rain first started normally. After about two hours, the storm started and we decided to leave for the inner room and not quite five minutes later, the roof of the building was blown off. But we thank God that everyone in the house escaped unhurt.

"Our appeal is for assistance from all tiers of government, spirited groups and wealthy individuals in order alleviate our suffering," he said.

The Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Area, Hon. Muyiwa Oladipo, during an on-the-spot assessment of the development, thanked God that no life was lost during the incident.

He commiserated with victims and promised to contact the relevant state government agencies for possible assistance.