Lamentations have trailed the destruction of about 50 houses during the last Sunday night rainstorm in the Ogele community, Asa Local Council of Kwara State.
The Guardian gathered that the rain, which started at about 8:00 p.m., stripped a 139-year-old cleric of his abode.

It was also learnt that the rain wreaked havoc on public places like schools and individual houses. Eyewitnesses said places like the Ansar-ul Islam primary school, community secondary school, health centre, mosques, and Quranic schools were badly affected by the disaster.

An eyewitness, Alfa Nurudeen Fehintola, said the house of the 139-year-old Mufti of Ogele and its environs, Alhaji Abdulsalam Ibrahim, was greatly affected by the storm.

“As Muslims celebrate Eid-el-fitr after the completion of Ramadan fast, our community was thrown into a solemn mood by the rainstorm disaster.

“The rainstorm which greeted the community on Sunday evening left many residents homeless, helpless and devastated owing to destruction of public infrastructures and properties owned by individuals and the indigenes.

“Other facilities destroyed include concrete poles and high-tension electric wire linking Ogele, Afon and adjoining communities,” he said. Speaking to newsmen yesterday, some victims, who appeared sad and devastated, said they were still counting their losses.

They appealed to government at all levels and public-spirited individuals and organisations for help.The community leader, Aare Ogele, Alhaji Ishola Abubakar Akanbi, whose residence was also affected, reiterated the call for help, saying the storm ripped off their belongings and sources of livelihood.

The chairman of Ogele Descendants Progressive Union (ODPU), Alhaji Issa Akanbi-Oniyo and others corroborated the view of the community leader, saying the ill-fated incident left many residents homeless.