A severe rainstorm that struck Igboho, a town in Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State, has left widespread destruction in its wake, damaging more than 500 houses and other valuable property worth millions of naira. The storm, which occurred on Tuesday, also displaced thousands of residents and caused extensive damage to power infrastructure, including electric poles and transformers.
According to information gathered, the scale of devastation was unprecedented, affecting both public infrastructure and private properties.
The traditional ruler of Igboho, Oba Dr. Joel Olalere Olawuwo—who also serves as the Chairman of the Oorelope Local Government Traditional Council—confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday. He described the storm as a tragedy that left the community in mourning and called for urgent intervention from the Oyo State Government.
“This storm brought sorrow and devastation to our people,” Oba Olawuwo stated. “Electric installations, including transformers and poles, were destroyed, along with close to 500 homes. We are appealing to His Excellency, Governor Oluseyi Makinde, to offer prompt assistance to the affected residents and help restore normalcy.”
He noted that only a government-led relief effort could adequately address the scale of loss and support the community in rebuilding.
Similarly, Alhaji Hammed Adegoke, President of Ifelodun Omo Igboho—a community-based association representing the interests of Igboho indigenes—echoed the call for support. He urged Governor Makinde to instruct the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide immediate relief materials and long-term aid to affected families.
“Our community is still reeling from the impact of the storm,” Alhaji Adegoke said. “Just a month ago, we faced a similar incident, but the recent rainstorm caused even more destruction. We’re calling on the state government to help with palliatives for affected families, and to assist in restoring our electricity infrastructure.”
He further explained that the community had been investing its own resources into maintaining electric poles and equipment, only for the storm to undo much of that progress.
Both the traditional ruler and the community group appealed to the state government to deliver large-scale support, not only to restore essential services but also to help residents recover from their losses.
They expressed confidence that the pro-people orientation of the Governor would result in swift action to support the victims and rehabilitate the affected areas.
