Downpour Rattles Ile-Ife, Modakeke Residents

By Kehinde Ayantunji

Residents of Ile-Ife and Modakeke, State of Osun have lamented the effects of the recent heavy rainfall in the areas, leaving in its trail, flooded streets, houses, churches, shops and markets, has caused huge economic loss.

The downpour caused power outage among various areas like Akarabata, Owode, Oju Odo, Mayfair community and many other areas in Ile-Ife and Modakeke while vehicular movement was hampered as roads were flooded, making movements on these roads nearly impossible.

The deluge also prevented most people without private means of transportation from attending religious services; with attendance at several churches scanty as worshippers used the downpour as an excuse to stay indoors on Sunday.

Traders were also prevented from going about their daily business, as the rain grounded economic activities.

Roads were free as most bus drivers and Okada riders could not operate because of the intensity of the downpour.

Meanwhile, some residents have lamented that lack of proper drainage and water channels in some areas like Oju Odo, Mayfair and Akarabata resulted in the flooding of some residential houses and shops.

The rain started at about 8:30pm on Sunday and continued till about 11pm and there was heavy downpours on Monday and Tuesday.

The recent downpour forced men, women and children to stay at home. While some families were seen draining water from their homes using pumping machines, others resorted to scooping with containers.

In some areas, residents were overwhelmed by the volume of the surging water and watch helplessly not knowing which of their valuables to salvage.

Some residents, who spoke with the medium expressed sadness over the development, lamenting the havoc wrecked by the flood.

“It was the cry of my children that woke me up,” lamented Mrs Lawal Yetunde, a widow whose two bedroom apartment was flooded.

She said her children were sleeping on the floor when they noticed an unusual coldness, which jolted them from their sleep.”The speed with which the water spread to the entire house was alarming. There was nothing we could do to salvage our valuables,” she said.

The worst affected areas are; Akarabata, Owode, Ondo Road, Opa, Mayfair, and Oju Odo.