No fewer than five people have been confirmed dead after last Thursday’s heavy downpour in Ilorin, Kwara State while property worth millions of naira were also lost to the flood.
It was gathered that two human bodies and a Toyota Yaris car with registration number APP 544 E were removed from a river opposite Olusola Saraki abattoir, along Sobi Road by men of the state Fire Service on Saturday.
Also, two lives were said to have been lost as youths swimming to catch fish along Asa riverine areas, specifically at Amilengbe section, behind Salem House in the Ilorin metropolis got drowned in their expedition.
The spokesman of Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, and the General Manager of the state Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA), Alhaji Saad Ayuba dan Musa confirmed the development.
“Today, 1st October 2022, the Kwara State Fire Service has removed two human bodies and a Toyota Yaris car with Reg No APP 544 E from a river at ppposite Olusola Saraki Abattoir, along Sobi Road in Ilorin, capital of Kwara State.
“Information has it that the incident occurred during the yesterday’s (Friday) downpour when the casualties were struggling to drive through the bridge and suddenly got stuck by the flood and pushed them into the river.
“In truth, the rescued work was like a joint operation, because all the people in the neighborhood gave their full support to the firemen throughout the operation.
“Therefore, the Director, Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa urged the general public to please avoid driving whenever there is heavy rainfall,” Adekunle said.
Also, dan Musa confirmed that two lives were lost to flood occasioned by the heavy downpour when youths were reportedly swimming at Asa River to catch fish from fish ponds damaged by the torrents.
“As the head of KWEPA, I have received several phone calls from people to drive away thousand of youths swimming to catch fish along Asa riverine areas especially at Amilengbe area behind Salem House.
“From a reliable source, the flood has swept away the fishery ponds from unknown location into the river which attracted the youths to become emergency fishermen in the area which has claimed two lives as at today.
“This is a clarion call and warning to the parents to warn their children against this ugly situation; the police force and Fire Service department should be despatched to drive away these youths from the scene”, he said.
