Heavy rain destroys buildings in Owerri

Properties worth several millions of Naira have been destroyed by a heavy down pour that occurred in Owerri, recently.

Properties, including both commercial and residential buildings belonging to residents of Amakohia in Uratta, Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, were destroyed

The urbanised settlement hosting thousands of civil and public servants in Imo State, and sandwiched between Akwakuma community and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, has traditionally fallen victim to heavy torrential rain storm, resulting in the loss of valuable properties.

Consequently, motorists, commuters, and commercial motor cycle operators became frustrated as movement was completely paralysed, forcing many people to trek long distances before getting to their destinations.

When Daily Trust visited the embattled community, some of the major victims of the natural disaster were seen wearing long faces and lamenting their woes, while assorted types of ravaged properties were being moved to undisclosed places by their owners and sympathisers.

When contacted for his reaction, the secretary of Amakohia Development Union Mr. Aloy Manufor refused to comment on the incident.

However, a member of the cabinet of the traditional ruler of the community, Eze Boniface Chibundu ( the Ama I of Amakohia) Mr. Benson Njoku, regretted that several letters and petitions written and forwarded to the state government for urgent solution to the incessant problem have failed to yield any results.

Njoku also bemoaned that gutters in the community had been excavated by the government without anything done to check possible flooding.