Residents of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital, are counting their losses following heavy rainfall on Tuesday, April 19, which led to the destruction of properties in the city.
As gathered by this reporter who went round some of the affected areas, the wind that preceded the rainfall pulled down living homes, shops, churches, trees and electricity poles around parts of Oron Road, Abak Road, Udo Umana Street and Ring Road III.
In some of the affected areas, victims were seen lamenting the loss of properties following the rainfall. Mrs. Anthony John a Thermocool equipment distributor along Udo Umana Street said it was the second time in two months that the roof of her shop has been blown off by the winds.
She said “this is the second time the roof of my shop has been blown off by the winds. Towards the mid-point of March, I can recall, it was a Sunday, someone called me to hurry to my shop that the wind had blown open the roof of my shop.
“By the time I arrived, my shop was flooded, and this led to the loss of several appliances. Here we are today again, I don’t know who to blame for this because as you can see (pointing to the house where her shop is located) the roof has been blown off in my presence.”
At Ring Road III, some of the victims who spoke on the condition of anonymity blamed the lack of environmental planning caused by the unavailability of wind caution trees for the wanton destruction of properties across the city of Uyo anytime there is heavy rainfall.
