Residents of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, are grappling with significant losses after a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds wreaked havoc across the city on Saturday night.
The storm, which lasted for over an hour, caused widespread destruction in several communities, including Ogo-Oluwa, Olaiya, Okefia, and Oke Bale.
Properties valued at millions of naira were reportedly destroyed, leaving many residents displaced and struggling to assess the full extent of the damage.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the intense winds tore off rooftops, damaged electricity infrastructure, and brought down perimeter fences in multiple locations.
Several buildings, including multi-storey structures, suffered severe structural damage during the incident.
One of the affected residents, Nurudeen Murtala, recounted how the storm left his home exposed after its roof was completely blown off.
“The roof of my house was blown off, and many other houses were also affected. This has impacted many landlords and tenants in the area,” he said.
Murtala lamented the financial strain of rebuilding, noting that he currently lacks the resources needed to repair the damage.
In a separate incident linked to the storm, a truck driver transporting goods was trapped for about an hour after a billboard collapsed onto his vehicle along the Gbongan-Ibadan Road around 8 p.m. The incident occurred near a fast-food outlet in the Aregbe area.
An eyewitness, identified as Sola, said residents mobilised quickly to rescue the driver from the wreckage.
“It took the combined efforts of people around to rescue him. I believe only God saved his life,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, no fatalities had been officially confirmed.
However, the incident has left many residents with significant property losses and, in some cases, temporary displacement.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke expressed sympathy with those affected by the disaster.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor described the rainstorm as unfortunate and extended the government’s condolences to victims.
He assured that the state government, through the Osun State Emergency Management Agency, would take necessary steps to mitigate the impact of the disaster.
The governor also directed the Ministry of Works to clear affected roads to prevent further accidents and restore normal traffic flow.
Adeleke attributed the increasing frequency of such extreme weather events to climate change, emphasising the need for proactive environmental measures.
He urged residents to adopt preventive practices, including tree planting, while cautioning against indiscriminate deforestation.
