The signs that the rains are here and will be fierce this year are getting clearer and clearer. The meteorologists had warned of heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms. If there is any evidence needed to prove the weather predictions, the windstorm that swept through Ilorin the Kwara State capital, Wednesday, establishes the validity of the weather forecast.

Over 100 houses had their roofs blown off in Ilorin, following the windstorm that ushered in the second major rain that occurred in the city this year.

Understandably, the havoc has rendered thousands of the residents homeless.

It was gathered that the midnight heavy downpour was accompanied by a thunderous windstorm which blew off the rooftops of some residential and official buildings including the Ilorin office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The rainstorm, which broke down the fence of the INEC building, also blew off a substantial part of its roof.

Other areas affected by the rainstorm include the state government Mandate Housing Estate, Adewole, Royal Valley Estate, Kulende, Harmony Estate, Akerebita and Federal Low Cost Housing Estate, Oloje.

The rainstorm also swept through Okelele, Oloje, Adabata, Anifowose/Pakata, Alfa Yahaya/Oke Agodi all in the down town part of Ilorin.

The Special Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Emergency and Relief Services, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, who led a government delegation on inspection of the affected areas described the havoc wreaked by the rainstorm as unprecedented.

The destruction done to some Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)'s poles in areas like Omoda, Ode Alausa has furthered worsened the epileptic power supply in the metropolis.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the inspection tour of the affected areas, Abdullahi emphasised the need for the people of the state to always engage professionals and use quality materials in the construction of their buildings.

Abdullahi, who conveyed the governor's sympathy to the people, assured them of government's prompt intervention to ameliorate their suffering.

A victim of the disaster at Okelele area of the metropolis, Imam AbdulRahman Kala, appealed to the government to come to their aid.

Kala, who works with Ilorin South Local Government in the state, lamented the enormity of the damage, noting that fixing it would be difficult.