Rain havoc in Ibadan 

J.F.Petrol Filling Station, along Lagos Ibadan expressway affected by the rainstorm

• 2GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN

Over 100 buildings including residential houses, churches, mosques, fuel stations and shops were destroyed by rainstorm in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State Sunday night.

Also affected by the rainfall that lasted less than two hours, were the electric poles belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) which fell across the roads causing traffic gridlock in the affected areas.

Areas affected by the rainstorm include Olomi, Odinjo, Molete, Odo-Ona and Challenge areas of the city.

At Aperin, the rain affected Ibadan Christ Apostolic Grammar School, where the storm removed the roofs of some blocks of classrooms and collapsed a whole classroom block newly constructed and yet to be handed over to the school for use.

J.F.Petrol Filling Station, along Lagos Ibadan expressway affected by the rainstorm

Other schools affected were: St. Annes, Molete, Adelegun Grammar School, Odinjo, Ibadan City Academy, and Eleta High School, both in Eleta, Aperin Boys High School, Aperin, St. David Boys High School, Kudeti and Eyini High School.

Among the churches and Mosques affected by the rainstorm were God Evangelical Mission Nigeria and Cherubim and Seraphim Church both at Koloko, Celestain Church of Christ (CCC), Olorunsogo Keshinro Drive, Felele, and O.T.M Central Mosque, Boluwaji.

some houses destroyed by rainstorm at Koloko area of Ibadan

Abiola Ayobami, a staff at J.J. World petrol filling station which was also affected, said that within 30 minutes that the rain started, it destroyed the roof of the filling station.

“It started around 11:30pm yesterday by blowing heavy wind. By the time the rain started, less than 30 minutes, it removed the roof of the filling station and that is why we cannot sell fuel today. As you can see, we are already repairing it and hopefully, by tomorrow, we will resume work and start selling full because we have fuel”, Abiola added.

An elderly woman, Mrs. Mogbojubola Adesina who is over 70 said that she was sleeping when it started. “It was my tenants that woke me up and by the time I woke up, the rain has done its worst. It has removed the roof and all my property lost. See the room, we manage to salvage few things and they are the ones outside there. Go and see it yourself and take the picture to let the people of the world know the agony of an old woman. Since yesterday, I have not slept and I don’t know where to sleep today”, the old woman said.

The heavy rain was experienced in many parts of western Nigeria Sunday night, in a month not usually associated with heavy rainfall.