Five persons escape death as flood ravages Ekiti

About five persons escaped death by whiskers Tuesday night, when flood overflowed Ureje River Bridge along Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti, and wreaked havoc on adjoining buildings.

The Guardian gathered that the victims were coming from the Ureje area, when they were overrun by flood after a torrential downpour that lasted for three hours.

Apart from those that narrowly escaped death at the riverbank, commuters entering Ado Ekiti and travelling out of the metropolis were stranded for several hours.

The corresponding gridlock extended from Ureje Bridge to Saint Paul’s Anglican Church at Odo Ado, Ado Ekiti, a distance of about two and half kilometres.

An eyewitness told newsmen, yesterday, that the victims, who could have been drowned, were saved by some divers, who waited to assist elderly people to cross the flooded spot.

“The five victims were struggling to cross the bridge with high and heavily tidal water level when suddenly they were overran and washed away by flood.

“Some people, who were waiting at the bridge, raised the alarm which attracted divers, who quickly jumped into the river to save them,” the witness added.

Meanwhile, property worth several millions of naira were damaged in areas like Eminrin Estate, Adebayo, Ita Eku and Ilupeju Avenue, when the flood surged into some buildings during the downpour.

Some properties, including cars parked nearby, a block industry owned by one Rasheed Akanbi, and a church were totally submerged by water.

In Eminrin Estate, about 10 buildings were affected, while the occupants lost valuables.

A victim, Mrs. Julianah Ajulo, said her family lost property worth over N3 million to the flooding.

She called on the state government to bail them out of the horrible situation.

She said: “We were happy when Governor Biodun Oyebanji came to dredge the Ureje River in Eminrin. We never knew we could witness this again.

This is the third time in 10 years, we are witnessing such. We appeal to the government to urgently come to our aid. We are seriously hurt by this incident.”