Pregnant woman, others rescued from Ibadan flood

A pregnant woman was among many residents of Ibadan, Oyo State, that were rescued by officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) after an early morning rain wrecked havoc in many areas of the ancient city.

While several vehicles were submerged, unconfirmed reports said no fewer than four motorcyclists and their passengers were swept away by the deluge at Onipepeye area of the town.

Many rivers and streams overflowed their boundaries. Some residents were seen evacuating water from their houses after the rain that started around 5a.m. and stopped around 9a.m.

Some of the seriously affected areas are Wofun, Kute, Akobo, Idi-Ape, Gbekuba, Apata, Omi Adio, Orogun, and Bodija. About eight houses were reportedly submerged at Wofun in Olodo area of Ibadan.

A visit to Oyo State government secretariat around 10a.m., revealed that many workers resumed late to their offices yesterday. Also, many markets did not open until around noon.

The river at Orogun was said to have overflown the bridge and a deluge of water paid unwanted visit to many houses at the Orogun junction along Ojoo-UI Road.

At Idi Ape area, a tree fell on the road and caused gridlock. The situation forced motorists to make detour to other routes.

Residents at Yawuri in Akobo area blamed the flood in the community on a shop that was newly constructed on the waterway. They appealed to the Ministry of Environment in the state to remove the shop.