A commercial motorcyclist whose identity has not been confirmed has been reportedly swept away while trying to cross the Onipepeye bridge along Old Ife-Ibadan Road during a heavy downpour Tuesday morning in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
The rainfall which started around 5.20am affected many houses after some rivers and streams were overflow. Affected areas include Ajibode Extension, Orogun, NISER, Apete, Onipepeye, Olodo, Kute, Omi-Adio, Bodija, Wofun, Akobo and Apata.
A church building at Orogun belonging to Celestial Church of Christ along UI- Ojoo Road, Orogun, Ajibode and other structures in that area were also affected.
Efforts to get the Public Relations Officer of the state Police command, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu to speak on the matter since morning proved abortive as calls put through his mobile phone were not answered.
However some people including a pregnant woman were rescued by the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. John Adewoye who led his team to the scene of the incident at Celestial Church Orogun.
Though it was learnt that some members of the church turned down the request of the NSCDC rescue team to rescue them.
It was also learnt that the Apete River also overflowed during the rain but no casualty recorded.
Public Relations Officer of NSCDC Mr. Olusegun Oluwole, who later issued a statement said though there was no casualty at the church building, his men rescued a pregnant woman and other members of the church although some turned down the request to be rescued.
A visit to Oyo State Government Secretariat around 10am revealed that many workers resumed late in their offices while many shops and markets within the metropolis could not open until noon.
At Idi Ape area, a tree fell on the road and caused gridlock. The situation forced motorists to make detour to other routes.
But many motorcyclists and tricyclists passed through the opening under the tree that fell across the road.
Meanwhile the NSCDC has warned residents of the flood prone areas to evacuate the areas in a bid to forestall loss of lives and property.
In a statement mailed to DAILY POST Tuesday afternoon by NSCDC spokesman, the command warns residents to evacuate flood prone areas in order to forestall any case of loss of lives and property.
The statement reads “Ibadan Flooded Area. Due to heavy downpour in the early hours of today, many rivers overflow their boundaries and bridges, such flooded area include orogun canal besides celestial church under Akinyele south LCDA, Onipepeye bridge along old Ife road, Dandaru junction along mokola/ UCH junction and olodo area along Iwo road under Ajorosun LCDA .
“The Officers and men of Nigeria security and civil Defence corps led by the state commandant John Adewoye safe the situations by cordon some roads, control crowd, rescue those who are adamant on staying in their house despite being flooded,
“The state commandant warn the residents of flooded area to always cooperate with the men of NSCDC when they are on ground to rescue them and to desist from dumping refuse in drainages.
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