In Lagos, rainfall is fast becoming a curse rather than a blessing with the loss of lives and property occasioned as a result of heavy downpour, storm and flood. Last week, Lagos experienced that tragedy once again, Paul Dada writes.Rainfall has been known for century as divine showers of blessing, and through history, it had provided the much needed blessings that mankind needed to survive. The availability of rainwater has been nature's solution to vices like famines and drought. El Nathan, a Christian poet, once wrote that "showers of blessing ... we need". However, the rainfall that wrecked havoc in Lagos on the night of Wednesday, June 27 and Thursday, June 28, left little to be desired of the perceived blessings expected. Perhaps, if Nathan were to be living in Lagos, in this age, he would have sought a better analogy to pass his message. Lagosians today no longer see the raining season as a period of blessing, as it has become far worse than what they expected. Added to their predicament is the whirlwind that comes with the rains and the floods that ensue afterward. The rains in Lagos actually are not the major problem but the floods resulting from them, which normally lead to loss of lives and property. |
Amongst the casualty of the rainfall was Ahmed Shotunminu who died as a result of the rainstorm that raged between the night of last Wednesday and Thursday. As the storm raged, the debris from two collapsed structures fell onto an adjoining storey building, housing the 22-year-old carpenter, Ahmed Shotunminu, who was sleeping alongside, Biola Adesanya, on the same bed. Ahmed was said to have died instantly, while Biola reportedly escaped with head and arm injuries. A neighbour, Odubanjo, who explained to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, how the tragedy occurred, said: "At about 1.15am, Ahmed's father, Alhaji Olusoji, raised the alarm that we should help rescue his son. continued |
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