Osun residents count losses as flood destroys properties in Ikire, Commissioner for Environment reacts

VAM News Update

Ikire, the headquarters of Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, has been thrown into serious agony following the massive flood that ravaged the town on Saturday, destroying property worth millions of naira, as a result of a heavy downpour in the town.

It was gathered that the heavy downpour started around 8am on Saturday and lasted over four hours.

The affected areas in the town include; Oja-Ale, Atoto, Naira and Kobo, Fulani, Mateba, UNIOSUN Road, Campus area and many others.

The flood was reported to have sacked more than 100 residents, shops, hostels, destroyed farmlands and killed livestock among other things.

Some belongings of the victims were still trapped in the flood when our reporter visited the area, as residents struggled to save their wards from drowning.

The youths of the town were mobilised to avert extreme damage as many of them were seen scooping water from their houses.

Commuters plying the Ikire end of the Ife/Ibadan expressway called on relevant government authorities to rise to the occasion and save lives.

Commissioner for Environment reacts, asks residents not to panic, mobilizes personnel to the spot

Osun State Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Hon. Mayowa Adejoorin has assured residents of Ikire in Irewole local government not to panick over the flash flood that occurred around Naira and Kobo

The commissioner in a release said he has directed some personnel of the ministry to as quickly as possible find a temporary solution to combat the flood.

Part of the statement reads, “We are making arrangements to find a temporary solution to be followed immediately by permanent solution.

“Meanwhile, in the meantime, I have directed the Permanent Secretary and Director of Flood control to mobilize some personnel to the spot for urgent attention. I want to assure the people of ikire of our maximum support in combating the flooding.”

It was however gathered that the flash floods was as a result of spontaneous heavy down pour, poor alignment of culverts on the dual carriage road with the culverts at the township gate way and blockage as a result dumping of refuse on the water ways.

The commissioner however promised to visit the site with his personnel anytime soon, as he encourages people to desist from dumping refuse on the water ways.