– Govt urges residents to embrace precautionary measures
Search is still ongoing for the remains of Mrs. Ogunjehinsin Iyabo, a native of Ilawe and mother of two, who was swept away by flood at Elemi River during the Monday night downpour in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
The victim, who was reportedly on her way home when the heavy rain started, was washed away by the overflowing river, while another victim, Ibrahim Mandella, a labourer from Kebbi State, drowned at Adehun and his body has been recovered.
Mandella, a native of Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State, was said to be a labourer working in Ado-Ekiti.
As of the time of filing this report, the body of Mrs. Ogunjehinsin is yet to be found as search efforts by residents and emergency workers are ongoing.
The body of Mandella has been recovered. His remains were found opposite the highway near the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries junction in Adehun.
Narrating how the incident happened, Mandella’s brother, Dauda Daniel, said the deceased was at a car wash in Adehun during the heavy downpour when he insisted he could cross the flooded narrow bridge despite warnings from people around him, before he was swept away.
His wife, Favour Mary, said she spoke with him twice around 10:45 p.m. on Monday.
“He promised to return shortly. He even sent N4,500 for dinner before I went to bed with our two children. I woke around 4 a.m. and discovered he had not returned,” she said.
Mandella was said to be returning home after working around the Ijero area when the tragedy occurred.
Residents described the Monday rainfall as one of the heaviest in recent times, which overflowed Ureje, Elemi and other rivers, submerging bridges and adjoining streets.
Meanwhile ,EkIti State Governor, Mr Abiodun Oyebanji has sympathised with the families of the victims of the recent flooding that occurred at various sites in the state capital, Ado EkIti with a call for concerted efforts at curbing the menace of flooding in the state.
Oyebanji expressed deep sadness at the unfortunate incident which led to the loss of lives of some residents of the state capital assuring that government would buckle efforts in addressing the ecological challenges bedevilling the state.
According to the Deputy Governor of the state, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye whose office overseas disaster management in the state paid an on-site visit to the various scenes of the incidents and addressed the people on behalf the Governor in Ado EkIti, the state capital.
Speaking at the sites of the incidents, Ayemi, Adebayo road and Elemi, Afao road, all in the state capital, Oyebanji noted that government had taken serious efforts at tackling water surge in the state by purchasing various earthmoving equipment which had been instrumental to a significant reduction in flooding across the state in the past few years .
The Governor who hinted that he was deeply worried by the unfortunate incident called on residents across the state to embrace safety regulations and take precautionary measures by jettisoning the conservative methods of wastes disposal that cause blockage of waterways by making use of the facilities provided by government for their wastes disposal.