24th July, 2015
Four persons got drowned and property worth millions of naira destroyed in Obosi community near Onitsha, following a downpour that lasted for about five hours, a correspondent of NAN reports.
The rain which started in the early hours of Friday, collapsed a four-storey uncompleted building in the Owelle Aja area of the community and flooded many houses, with their occupants trapped.
NAN correspondent observed that some of the affected residents were removing their property soaked by the rain while others were laying sandbags and trying to create access for the flood water.
NAN also observed that residents of Oduke Layout were wailing as a family of four were said to have drowned in the flood water.
Speaking to NAN, a landlord in the community, Chief Achebe Ifemaje, urged the government to move fast to re-plan the community and stop land speculators from selling every space of land without regard to the flow of water in the community.
“What has happened is a big lesson to everyone, especially where people refuse to plan but put money first rather than the safety of lives.
“We appeal to Gov. Willie Obiano to come and re-plan the entire Obosi community especially its layouts and Owelle Aja areas,” he said
An indigene of Obosi, Mr Michael Chukwurah, urged government to stop land speculators from indiscriminate division of land into parcels and restore the master-plan of the community by removing structures that blocked water passage.
“It is a lie that Obosi does not have a master-plan. It is the land speculators that are peddling that rumour to get more land to sell.
“We do have a master-plan and prominent people in Obosi should invite government to come and do the needful,” Chukwurah said.