Residents of Igbobini and Ilu-Agbo communities in Ese-Odo Local Council of Ondo State, at the weekend, cried out to the government following the ravaging of their homes by flood.

The flood, which occurred as a result of three consecutive days of heavy downpours, left many residents displaced and without shelter.
Many houses in the affected communities were severely devastated by the flood.

Following the development, a significant number of the affected residents are currently seeking refuge at RCM Primary School in Ilu-Agbo.

One of them, who simply gave his name as Moses, said: “The situation is dire. Many residents from both communities have had their homes destroyed by the flood.

“The primary school in Ilu Agbo is now accommodating a large number of affected individuals. It’s a serious matter that requires immediate attention.”

The Chairman of Ese-Odo Local Council, Sipasi Aluko, who went on an assessment visit to the affected communities, appealed to both the Ondo State and Federal Governments for urgent assistance to aid the affected residents.

She said: “We want to enjoin all the concerned authorities and well-meaning Nigerians both within and faraway places to render assistance in order to ameliorate the suffering of the affected residents.”

Meanwhile, the bridge linking Ese-Odo-Irele on land with Araromi, Ayeka, and Okitipupa communities in Okitipupa Local Council was also submerged by the flood.

A source said: “The concrete-cemented embarkment that was constructed during the late Olusegun Agagu Administration remains the only route on land that links Ese-Odo and Irele with Okitipupa Local Governments.

“As a result of this, many travellers that could not go through the long distance of the Ode-Irele-Olowo road are stranded, as some risk the use of canoes to cross over.”

A resident, Chief Olafusi Olaluwoye, appealed to the state government to revisit the embarkment contract and extend the construction of the Araromi-Ayeka bridge to the terminal end at Ode-Irele.

“This will ease the movement of the people living in the area. We want the government to act fast on this bridge.”