Siblings drown as rainstorm wrecks havoc in Ilorin
Two children of the same parent drowned in Ilorin, Kwara State, during a storm that accompanied a heavy rainfall on Wednesday night.
The rain which started around 11 pm wrecked havoc in most parts of the state capital with Offa garage being the worst affected.
The kids simply identified as Abdulgafar, who was five-years-old and his brother, three-year old AbdulBasit, drowned when a rented three-storey building was submerged in flood along Omosebi area off Ajasse Ipo road in Ilorin.
Residents told Daily Trust that the flood was induced by the blockage of drainages around the area which prevented free flow of water to the nearby bridge.
Fences of most of the buildings around the area including that of a hotel collapsed while big trees were uprooted.
Our correspondent who visited the area yesterday reports that parts of the bridge collapsed while many private and commercial vehicles were damaged.
Corpses of the two kids were said to have been taken to their family house within Ilorin metropolis for burial when Daily Trust visited the place.
None of the relations including their grandmother whom they were living with was on ground as they were said to have relocated to a yet-to-be-identified family house.
All other occupants of the building who were mostly Ibo businessmen were affected by the flood as their property, wares and shops were destroyed.
One of the occupants of the building, Mr. Nicholas Kooms told Daily Trust that when the children were recovered, they were rushed to a nearby hospital where they were both confirmed dead.
A shop owner, Bolaji Bamgbola, who deals in air conditioners’ parts said all his property were lost to the flood. The victims called for government’s intervention.
Officers and men of the state police command, Civil Defence Corps, Road Transport Management Authority (KWARTMA) were on ground to provide security and control the traffic.
Many residents of Ilorin who trooped to the scene to assess the enormity of damage blamed the situation on lack of effective drainage system along the area.
State Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Alhaji Abubakar Mora, visited the scene to assess the level of damage and pledged government’s intervention.
Police spokesman, Mr. Okasanmi Ajayi, confirmed the incident, saying officers of the command were on ground to provide security.