Delta community loses properties worth millions of naira to rainstorm

Properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed by rainstorm which wreaked havoc in Alifekede Community in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Consumable goods like garri, yams, pineapples among others were lost to the rain which destroyed the foodstuffs while valuable property such as houses, electricity poles, and economic trees among others worth over N100 millions of naira were destroyed.

At least, 10 persons escaped death by the whiskers but were severely wounded as they were hit by flying objects during the rainstorm according to locals who recounted their experiences.

A community leader in the boundary town between the state and Edo, Pa. Monday Obiazi said most of the injured victims were on admission at the hospital after first aid was administered to them.

Obiazi who spoke at the community market along the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha highway informed that the roofs of the market were blown off, thereby exposing the foodstuffs to rain.

“I can tell you that it will be difficult for the victims to restart their lives on their own without adequate support. For the traders, they will have to go and obtain loans without collateral because some of their houses were affected.

“So we need both the local, State and federal governments and all the relevant agencies and well-meaning Nigerians to come and rescue us from the situation we have found ourselves,” he appealed.

As a result of the incident, Obiazi said no fewer than 20 households have been rendered homeless, adding however that some of the victims were now taking refuge in neighbouring towns.

He described the loss as “too heavy” for the subsistence families and petty traders to bear, and therefore called on the relevant authorities to come to their aid with relief materials to cushion the impact of the disaster.

“The damage is such that individuals cannot bear. The loss is heavy. Roofs of several houses were taken off by the accompanying wind. All the women in this market had just gone to restock, with each of them, over 100, buying at least a pickup load of goods which were destroyed.

Corroborating, a youth leader in the town, Obiazi Kingsley said Alifekede was one of the most neglected communities in the state, adding that they were stunned by the level of destruction caused by the rainstorm.

He also appealed to the government to intervene and cushion the impact of the disaster on the victims by sending relief materials.

Credit: Independent