Flood Ravages Osun Communities, Damages Bridge, Destroys Property

Torrential rainfall has caused flooding in several communities across Osun State, destroying property and damaging a key bridge linking Ijaregbe with Ilesa.

The heavy downpour, recorded between Friday and Monday, affected parts of Osogbo, including Ayekale, Famson Area, Oke Baale, Sasa and Ilesa Garage.

In Ilesa, Muroko Road was flooded after the Ora River overflowed, while the bridge linking Ijaregbe to Ilesa was damaged following hours of rainfall on Monday, cutting off the community from Ilesa.

Other affected communities include Ijana, Ibala, Ayegunle, Idooko and Eesun Ijesa, with the flooding disrupting the movement of residents, goods and services.

Residents of Ayekale in Osogbo, Akin Olugbodi and Shekinat Olaegbe, said they lost property following the flooding. Olaegbe, a widow, said several houses were also affected and called for urgent government intervention.

The Olomu of Ijaregbe, Oba Edward Adetimo, confirmed that the bridge linking the community to Ilesa was damaged by the heavy rainfall.

According to the monarch, the House of Assembly member representing Obokun State Constituency, Adewumi Adeyemi, visited the area alongside others to assess the situation. He said officials of the Ministry of Works were expected to provide a temporary solution pending full reconstruction.

The monarch also said the damage had affected schoolchildren from Ijaregbe who attend schools in Ilesa, urging the state government to urgently intervene.

Meanwhile, Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, said the government had implemented measures to mitigate the impact of flooding.

Adejoorin attributed the flooding to heavy and prolonged rainfall but said the situation had not reached an uncontrollable level.

He said preventive measures by the state government included dredging waterways and public awareness campaigns against indiscriminate dumping of refuse along waterways.

The commissioner explained that the damaged bridge and box culvert linking Ilesa with Ijaregbe and other neighbouring communities fell under the responsibility of the Ministry of Works, which he said had already commenced action.