Houses, Shops Submerged as Flood Hits Ilorin

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Hundreds of residential buildings and shops were submerged following late Friday night downpour in some parts of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The heavy rain, which began around 10pm, lasted about three hours and was accompanied by flood.

THISDAY checks revealed that, while most of the houses flooded were built some metres away from the River bed, others affected were as a result of man-made situation.

Several cars were either flooded or got stuck on the road owing to the large volume of water while the asphalt on the road was also washed away by the flood.

Other areas affected by flood disaster were Aduralere, Amilegbe and Mubo Streets where several houses and property were damaged.

Also affected include, Idi-Igba Were/Harmony Estate Road, leaving most of the residential houses, shops and cars flooded with attendant destruction.

Some leaders of the community who spoke on the ugly development to our correspondent in Ilorrin attributed the flood disaster to the poor location of a new petrol station, Sirfak, saying it was built on the water channel, thus impeding free flow of water.

It was further learnt that some youths, who were enraged by the ugly development, threatened to pull down the fuel station but for swift intervention of leaders, who calmed the frayed nerves.

A member of the Kwara State House of Assembly representing Ilorin East Constituency, Hon. Aishat Bodurin Ibrahim, who was on the spot assessment to the flood areas, blamed the incident on the location of the petrol station.

She said the disaster would have been averted if the station was not located on the water channel, pointing out that it has become a nuisance to the community.

She urged relevant government agencies to see how the filling station could be removed to prevent recurrence.

Ibrahim stated that the government had done a lot by constructing the water channel in the bid to nip perennial flood disaster in the bud.

The female lawmaker, however, assured that the matter would be tabled on the floor of the House due to the impact of the disaster on the well being of the people.