Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun has expressed sympathy with residents of Osogbo and its environs over the devastation caused by Saturday night’s rainstorm.

The governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Sunday in Osogbo, described the incident as sad and unfortunate.

“On behalf of the government and good people of the state, I sincerely sympathise with victims of the heavy rainstorm that affected Osogbo and adjoining communities.

“I am deeply touched and concerned by the incident,” he said.

Mr Adeleke said the state government, through the State Emergency Management Agency, would do everything possible to mitigate the losses suffered by victims.

He added that he had directed the Ministry of Works to immediately clear affected roads to ensure the free flow of traffic.

A rainstorm late on Saturday wreaked havoc on houses and shops in Osogbo, blowing off rooftops with heavy winds.

Electric cables and streetlights around the Ogo-Oluwa and Olaiya axes were also damaged by the storm.

A giant billboard mounted around the Aregbe area was blown down, and its fallen iron bars damaged a soft drink distribution truck.

A journalist who went round the town on Sunday morning reported that residents were removing damaged rooftops from the roads.

Officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were also spotted controlling traffic in areas where debris from damaged property blocked the roads.

A resident, Adeniyi Oluwafemi, whose house was affected, said that his property was destroyed and the rooftop blown off.

“When the rain started, we began to hear strong winds, and before we knew it, the roof of our house was blown off.

“All my electronics and bedding were drenched, and my documents soaked.

“I cannot yet ascertain the extent of the damage as I am still sorting through my belongings,” he said.

Another resident, Jumoke Oluwagbemiga, said they had to flee their house when the roof was blown off, fearing the building might collapse.

“We are lucky there was no electricity during the rain because my daughter ran into a live wire that had been cut from a pole.

“Only God saved us; we could have lost our daughter,” she said.

The rainstorm also wreaked havoc in Oke-Baale, Sabo Ayetoro, and other parts of the town. 

(NAN)