Flood: Oyo communities seek govt intervention as bridge collapses

<p>Residents of some communities in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have sought the state government’s intervention to address the flooding rocking their areas.</p>, <p>PUNCH Metro gathered the rain-induced flood on Sunday that rocked Onikainkain in Moniya, Aroro Makinde, and Olodo areas, among others wreaked havoc in the respective communities.</p>, <p>A resident in Moniya, Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, Usman Busari, told PUNCH Metro on Monday that residents were stranded after the flood took over a bridge in their area on Sunday evening after the downpour.</p>, <p>Videos obtained by our correspondent showed motorcyclists, pedestrians and motorists waiting for the flood to subside, while other persons managed to wade through it.</p>, <p>“People were afraid to return to their homes. An okada rider also fell into the flood but he was lucky to have been rescued.</p>, <p>“The bridge they constructed for us in 2022 is too small to contain the flood that passes through our area,” Busari said.</p>, <p>The Chairman of the Ifesowapo Landlords Association in the area, Bello Rafiu, said the drainage for water was not long enough and it needed to be extended.</p>, <p>“What we need is a bigger bridge, ” he said.</p>, <p>On his part, Morenikeji David said a fence collapsed in his neighbourhood at Moniya.</p>, <p>“The bridge was affected by the flood. A fence also collapsed. The gutter is not well-channelled. The road is also damaged. The government should assist us in channelling the water to a better location. The water spreads to houses in the community. They should do something for us,” David said.</p>, <p>In the Aroro Makinde area, residents were seen wading through a turbulent water flow as they held one another.</p>, <p>“Makinde, we are staying in an area that bears your name, please come to our aid,” one of the residents said in the video, calling on Governor Seyi Makinde to come to their aid.</p>, <p>Efforts to get the reaction of the Chairman, Akinyele Local Government Area, Taoreed Adedigba, proved abo