Rainstorm wreaked havoc on an agrarian Ekiti community, Itapaji Ekiti, in the Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Sunday, blowing off roofs of buildings, including government schools.
The residence of a 120-year-old woman, Chief Fabunmi Ajayi, was not spared in the disaster that saddened the community.
Sources said that no fewer than 10 buildings, including a public institution, were blown off with over 50 residents rendered homeless by the incident.
Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, regretted the alarming rate of destruction of buildings by rainstorms in Ekiti in recent times.
Oyebanji, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, during an on-the-spot appraisal of the level of havoc wreaked in the town, sympathised with the victims, pledging the state government’s support for those who had been rendered homeless as a result of the incident.
The governor said, “We thank God that nobody died, but losing property under this avoidable situation is painful. We want our people to embrace tree planting around their houses. Trees are windbreakers that can help us protect our structures against damage.
“Besides tree planting, we should endeavour to carry out regular turnaround maintenance on our buildings. This is essential to prevent us from losing our buildings to rainstorms.”
The Olu of Itapaji, Oba Abdulazees Adebanjo, who conducted the governor and other officials’ round, applauded the state governor for showing compassion to the victims, particularly the expeditious way with which he visited the community.
Oba Adebanjo, represented by Oluketu of Itapaji, Chief Olaoye Olusesan, pleaded with the government to speedily grant the requests of the victims and give support that could bail them out their current precarious situation.
Recall that Ijelu Ekiti and Omuo Ekiti in the Oye Local Government area of the state had a similar experience recently when some buildings were destroyed by a rainstorm.
The deputy governor, who visited the communities over the incidents, had described them as heart-rending and devastating, saying on Monday, “The reoccurrence of this kind of incidence was becoming worrisome to us as a government.”
A rainstorm is a weather event characterized by a significant amount of rain falling over a short period.
Rainstorms can vary in intensity and duration, ranging from brief showers to prolonged downpours.
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