A rainstorm wreaked havoc on the Igbonna community in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State on Thursday, demolishing at least 35 houses, News About Nigeria reports.
The Head of Media and Publicity of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the incident on Friday, revealing that scores of residents were displaced by the storm’s impact on their homes.
“A heavy rainstorm in the Ogbonna community in Oyun LGA had a devastating effect on the community. 35 houses were affected,” Adekunle stated.
This comes just days after a similar disaster befell Iyara community in Kogi State, where over 1,000 people were left homeless following another rainstorm.
Expressing shock at the scale of destruction, the National President of the Igbonna Descendants Development Union, A. Salami, described the incident as unprecedented in the community’s history.
He lamented that only a handful of houses remained untouched, with many either demolished or severely damaged.
Speaking on the consequences of the disaster, he noted that the community’s economic and social activities had come to a standstill.
“The incident is unprecedented in history as the extent of the disaster is so great that most of our people are in confusion and will hardly find where to sleep.
“As we speak, the economic and normal lifestyle of the entire community has been grounded as the vulnerable victims of the disaster are at a loss as to what to do or where to put their heads for safety,” Salami said.
Salami called for urgent assistance from the government, as well as philanthropic individuals and organisations, to alleviate the plight of the affected residents.
“In view of this, members of the community are calling on the government and good-spirited individuals and organisations to promptly come to the aid of the community,” he urged.
