By Amos Okioma
Hundreds of residents in Kilama, Tein,Tambiri,Egbebiri communities within Biseni in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa have been rendered homeless following a violent rainstorm.
The whirlwind that accompanied the storm blew away the roofs of over 70 houses, five churches and three schools and destroyed electric poles, disrupting power supply to the area.
Chief Difference Nemiya, Paramount Ruler in Kilama said on Wednesday, that the incident which occurred on Monday evening also destroyed many plantain plantations and farm crops as well as economic trees.
“This natural disaster is the worst I have witnessed in this community, there was one that happened in the year 2000, but it was not this bad, as we speak we are still counting our losses and the community is in an emergency mode.
“The secretary of the community and some community leaders assigned to visit affected families have been going round and accessing the damages and it even affected our neighbouring settlements.
“Most of those displaced have nowhere to go and we need emergency help from relevant government agencies to bring relief and succour to the impacted people,” Nemiya said.
Godhelp Okorobia, one of the victims said that the storm destroyed both his father’s house and his own house, sacking seven of his tenants.
“We were at a meeting when the weather changed and the windstorm started, my father’s house which is near our meeting venue was de-roofed by the wind and dropped in a different location entirely, when I got home I saw my own house in ruins,” Okorobia said.
Another victim, Mrs. May Zuku, a 75 year old widow said that the disaster which happened within two weeks of her husband’s demise was too much grief for her to bear within the mourning period.
She appealed to Yenagoa Local Government, Bayelsa government and public spirited individuals to assist with rehabilitating her husband’s residence destroyed by the incident.
Mr. Ogiama Solomon, a farmer said that his plantain farm was badly destroyed while the electric pole fell on the roof of his residence. He was thankful to God for sparing human lives in the entire community.
“In the midst of our loss, we thank God that there was no loss of life, the electricity pole out their fell near where a petty trader and her baby stay to sell and they were unhurt, it is indeed a miracle,’ Solomon said.
Also, Mr. Lawrence Beneth, Deputy Paramount Ruler in Kilama who lost part of his roof and adjoining buildings appealed for relief materials to affected members of his community.
He said that the member representing the area in the state House of Assembly Gentle Emela had visited the area and pledged to draw the attention of the state government to the plight of the people.
