•Floods
Residents of some Ondo communities affected by the flood that occurred last weekend have called on the state government to come to their aid following the destruction of their property.
The flood occurred as a result of a downpour last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, which has reportedly destroyed property worth millions of naira in communities in Owo, Okitipupa, Ilaje and Ese Odo Local Government Areas of the state.
It was gathered that the flood destroyed buildings and submerged bridges in the affected communities of Uso, Ayeka, Ikoya, Igbodigo, Igodan, and Igbotako, reports The PUNCH.
One of the victims in the Okitipupa community, Mr. Joshua Jemiloni, said,”The flooding was caused by erosion flowing down from Igodan, coupled with the fact that the Igodan stream along the road overflowed its banks during the torrential downpour.
“It affected about 10 buildings. But we quickly ran out with our wives and children to seek refuge in safer neighbouring houses. Apart from damaging the walls and foundations of some buildings, we lost valuables such as electronics, clothing, bedding, chairs, rugs, and kitchen utensils to the flood.
“The canal was dredged earlier this year, but it has been blocked by debris, which I believe led to the flooding,” he stated.
The victim appealed to the government to dredge the canal in the area, which he identified as the major cause of the destructive flooding.
Similarly, a community leader in Igbodigo, in Okitipupa Local Government, Lawrence Awanebi, who expressed shock at the level of destruction, also called on the government to urgently assist those rendered homeless by the flood.
“Many residents have been rendered homeless as a result of the incident, we are calling on the government to assist in this regards,” Awanebi urged.
A market woman in Okitipupa, Mrs. Stella Ojo, said several houses had been washed away by the flood and urged the government to address the root causes of incessant flooding in the state.
In a reaction, the Chairman of Owo Local Government, Tope Omolayo, appealed to the federal government, the Ondo State Government, and relevant emergency agencies to intervene swiftly.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to assist our people because the damage is beyond what the local government can handle alone,” he urged.
The state governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had earlier said the government had commenced initiatives that would reduce floods and other natural disasters by dredging the waterways across the state.
“As a government, we shall continue with initiatives that will reduce the effects of flood and other natural disasters by dredging our waterways and enforcing environmental sanitation laws,” he stated.
