Three feared dead, as flood wreaks havoc in Ibadan

Heavy rains on Wednesday wreaked havoc in the ancient city of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, destroying several buildings and structures, while three people were feared dead.

Two people were reportedly swept out around Gbekuba village, Apata Ganga area of the city, while an Okada rider allegedly lost his life around the same area.

However, the state police command said there was no loss of lives in the unusual rain, which lasted for about three hours. Residents recalled a similar downpour that occurred on August 26, 2012, in which hundred of lives were lost.

We only saw his okada (motor cycle) floating, we couldn’t find the body,” a resident of he area told The Guardian.A representative of Babalola, Tajudeen Oladepo and the Chairman of Rebuild Forum, Omi-Adio, disclosed that two markets, Agbebukola and Abidogun markets, Omi-Adio, Ido Local Council area lost properties worth millions of naira.

Parts of the market affected by the flood include, a fuel station, a rail line at Bako area, markets, houses, shops and a magistrate’s court beside the market.

He said: “The traders, mostly foodstuff sellers and other goods lost almost all they had to the rain. As you can see, some of them are being displayed in the sun to dry,” he said.

According to him, the painful aspect of it is that, some traders who called their creditor, SEAP, LAPO etc, were told to brace up to repay as, only the dead are exempted from re-paying the loan.”

Oladepo described the flood as an annual experience, while appealing to the state government to come to their aid, by rebuilding the market and giving financial support to those who lost their valuables.