Rainstorm: 5, 000 Residents Rendered Homeless in Kwara Community

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

No fewer than 5,000 residents of Ogele Community in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State have been rendered homeless due to a rainstorm that ravaged the community.

Already about 50 houses have been affected by the rainstorm as many residents have been sleeping in mosques, churches and other uncompleted buildings in the community.

The incident, according to THISDAY checks, happened last Sunday, around 8:00 pm and also wreaked havoc on public places like schools and individual houses.

A visit by our correspondent to the town on Tuesday showed the people of the town are still counting the effects of the rainstorm.

Among the places visited by our correspondent includes, Ansarul Islam Primary School, Community Secondary School, Health Center, Mosques, and Quranic schools as the rainstorm damaged the affected property.

One of the residents of the town, Mr. Nurudeen Fehintola, said the house of the 139-year-old Mufti of Ogele and its environs were affected by the storm, including Alhaji Abdulsalam Ibrahim’s house.

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

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

Other facilities destroyed include concrete poles and high-tension electric wire linking Ogele, Afon and adjoining communities.

Other victims of the rainstorm who appeared sad and devastated said they were still counting their losses.

They appealed to the government at all levels and public-spirited individuals and organisations for help.

The Community leader, Aare Ogele, Ishola Abubakar Akanbi, whose residence was also affected, reinforced the call of the victims who he said are being ripped off of their belongings and sources of livelihood.

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