Residents of Irewumi and Toluwanimi communities in Ado-Ekiti, have cried out for help following flooding that ravaged homes, submerged roads and forced some families to flee their houses.
The residents said the situation became severe after heavy rainfall on Monday, with floodwater entering homes and compounds and leaving the road linking the two communities impassable.
They appealed to the state government to urgently intervene, alleging that the blockage and obstruction of drainage channels had worsened the flooding by preventing water from flowing freely.
One of the victims, Biodun Bamisaye, said he and his family were forced to leave their home after floodwater entered his room and compound.
Bamisaye, while thanking Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his efforts in the state, appealed to him to come to the rescue of residents of the affected communities.
He alleged that a hotel in the area, Prosperous Hotel, had blocked a drainage channel that previously allowed water to flow freely.
According to him, residents who challenged the action were told that the drainage was blocked to protect a fish pond.
Bamisaye said the development had put the lives and properties of residents at risk, urging the government to investigate the alleged obstruction and restore the waterway.
Another resident, Omotola Ojo, said the flood took over her home, forcing her and her family to flee the house for safety.
She also alleged that a drainage channel behind her home had been blocked by the hotel, worsening the flooding in the area.
Also speaking, a landlord in Toluwanimi Community, Gbenga Olonibuwa, said the government had constructed a culvert in the area to facilitate the free flow of water during heavy rainfall.
Olonibuwa, who lives opposite Bawa Estate, alleged that some individuals had destroyed the passage and sand-filled parts of the area, obstructing the flow of water from Tioluwani, Irewumi and adjoining communities.
He said residents were losing properties to the flood and had been exposed to danger.
“We had to forcefully pave way for the waters to flow. Government officials were here yesterday to assess the situation.”
Pastor Olusegun Ojo of CAC Mountain of Resurrection said the flood had also affected the church and destroyed portions of the road linking Irewumi and Toluwanimi.
Ojo said the volume of water was so high on Monday that residents could not leave their homes, forcing some to go without food.
“The effect of the rain has gone beyond our power. If you were here yesterday, you would have marvelled at the situation.
“None of us was able to come out yesterday. A lot of people had to go hungry because no one could leave because of the height of the water,” he said.
He appealed to the government to urgently address the situation, warning that continued rainfall could make the communities increasingly difficult to inhabit.
“If this rain continues for another two days, we might not be able to live in this community anymore,” Ojo said.
The residents expressed concern that prolonged flooding could further destroy properties and create public health risks.
They urged the state government to clear the blocked drainage channels and waterways, assess the damage and repair the road linking Irewunmi and Toluwanimi to prevent a recurrence.
