In July 2019, the Nigeria Metrological Agency had issued a warning that some states in the country should take measures against flood, saying the downpour in the months of August and September would be enormous as a result of climate change.
Though Osun State was not on the list of states that could be affected, a rainfall that led to flooding destroyed properties along its path.
The flood took a different dimension on Friday, August 30 through Sunday when the torrential rains forced an overflow of the river banks in Osogbo and Obokun local government areas.
The affected residents are already sulking over their losses. Among the flooded roads are, Ipetu Ile-Ibokun road which connects Ikirun, Iragbiji, Ipetu, Ibokun, Esa-Oke, Ijebujesa, Ilesa, Ondo and Ekiti states, MDS street, testing ground, Olobedu areas among many others in Osogbo.
20 hectares of farmlands destroyed in Obokun In Obokun town, the flood, which covered more than 3 kilometres on the Obokun Osogbo Ijebu Ijesa road, destroyed over 20 hectares of farmlands belonging to peasant farmers.
When Vanguard visited the farm areas, it was inaccessible while one of the relatives of an affected farmer disclosed that the farmlands in the area are owned by different peasant farmers and cannot quantify the loss accruable from the effect of the flood.
Also, the downpour damaged the only bridge linking four rural communities, Coker, Omu, Iyere to Osogbo located along Osun State University campus.
A resident of the community, who owns a medical centre, Mr Adebisi Rafiu said: “Presently, there are no other means of movement for the vehicle, human and farm products.
“The only alternative is for us to travel to another town then get to Osogbo which will now have to take hours. Economic activities will now be impossible except the government comes to our aid immediately.”
Besides, he said the flood destroyed five buildings in the community and the owners are now homeless. Community head seeks govt’s intervention, Baale of omu, Oba Operinmade Adejumo, also sought the help of government is rehabilitating the bridge so there would be ease of movement for both human and farm products.
Adejumo said: “As you can see, we resorted to self-help to put something together so that vehicle can pass here instead of having to go through the long journey to get to the state capital.
Also, schools would be resuming next week and some of our children attend schools in Osogbo.
The downpour, which continued on Saturday night, further complicated the situation. One of the victims, narrating his ordeal, said at first, he joined his family members of four scooping water out of the house before the situation worsened. He said: “It didn’t start as something serious. We were initially scooping the water but I noticed it would amount to a waste of energy doing this. I later decided that everyone moved out of the building.
Dr Adebisi Obawale, spoke when they led a government team on an emergency inspection of flooded areas in Osogbo. Engr Omowaye ascribed the incident to Climate Change which is causing River Osun to overflow its natural cause. Also speaking, Dr Obawale said: “River Osun has many tributaries from the neighbouring states of Ekiti and Ondo and other local governments in the state that already have a high volume of water, therefore flowing into the Osun River.
“We want the Federal Government to assist the state in dredging the Osun River going by the huge amount required for the exercise.”