By Chris Njoku, Owerri and Osagie Otabor, Akure
Residents of Umuokealum Amukachi in Akabo Ikeduru council of Imo State have been rendered homeless and property worth millions washed away in torrential rains early yesterday.
Over 50 houses, five boreholes, cars, electronics and household items were flooded. The fences of St Michael’s Catholic Church, Akabo, and Akabo High School collapsed.
The rain sacked several residents particularly those in the Ekemele area of Owerri-Okigwe Road.
Properties such as mattresses, kitchen utensils and clothes were washed away.
A weeping pensioner, Mrs. Rachel Owulezi, said her entire house was damaged including the things she bought for her husband’s funeral.
Mrs. Helen Odunze and her son Nnamdi bemoaned what the flood from the poorly constructed drainage caused in their house as all their electronics, clothing and other household items were destroyed.
Also, Kingsley Owulezi complained that the construction company has not channeled floodwaters away from the community despite the residents’ appeals to them to do so.
An aged woman wept bitterly, saying she lost everything she acquired all her life.
They called on the government to come to their rescue.
Rainstorm also destroyed buildings including a church at Oke Aro in Ondo South council of Ondo State.
A church worker of the Christ Apostolic Church, Mrs Ronke Olayinka, narrowly escaped death when the church building gave way during the rain.
“The heavy wind blew away my shop,” Mrs Adenike Olawole said.