- Adeleke commiserates with victims
By John Dike, Osogbo
No fewer than 1,000 residential buildings and shops were reportedly destroyed during a late Saturday evening rainfall in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Reports said the heavy downpour, accompanied by unusually strong winds, blew off the roofs of several affected buildings and shops.
Our correspondent, who visited the affected areas to assess the situation, observed residents and shop owners in popular areas such as Oja Oba, Olaiya, Alekuwodo, Owoeye and Okefia lamenting and counting their losses from the unfortunate incident.
Some shop owners in the Oja Oba and Olaiya areas, who spoke in separate interviews, said the rain came with unusually strong winds that pulled off the roofs of many homes and shops.
They added that the long-awaited rainfall eventually came with force, resulting in widespread loss of property and wanton destruction.
Mr Gabriel Obere, whose shop was destroyed, lamented the losses incurred at his Olaiya shop, describing the timing of the rain as unfortunate and the damage as overwhelming.
He called on the government and well-meaning individuals to come to their aid, noting that replacing the lost goods would be difficult.
Similarly, Mrs Odunayo Mojisola, whose shop was partially blown down, said the windstorm severely damaged her business and appealed to the government for assistance.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has expressed heartfelt sympathy and condolences to residents of Osogbo and its environs over the devastating rainstorm that wreaked havoc in parts of the state.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor described the incident as sad and unfortunate.
“On behalf of the government and the good people of the state, I sincerely sympathise with the victims of the heavy rainstorms that struck Osogbo and adjoining communities on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
“I am deeply touched and alarmed by the incident, and my administration will, through the Osun State Emergency Management Agency, put in place all possible measures to cushion the losses suffered by victims,” the statement read.
He added that he had directed the Ministry of Works to immediately clear affected roads to prevent further accidents.
While attributing the increasing occurrence of natural disasters to climate change, the governor said the development underscores his administration’s commitment to policies aimed at mitigating its effects.
He urged residents to support preventive measures such as tree planting and warned against indiscriminate felling of trees.
