Adebayo Adenrele
The rainstorm that lasted for almost six hours on Friday evening has wreaked havoc in many neighbourhoods in Ado Ekiti and other towns in Ekiti State as residents were thrown into darkness.
Communities affected are Ajebamidele, Omisanjana, Atlas all in Ado Ekiti, Ikere Ekiti, Ise Ekiti and Emure Ekiti and are experiencing power outage as a result of the destroyed electricity poles.
A heavy rain which swept across the neighbourhoods Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday left many of the residents stranded disrupting traffic, social and economic activities.
The rain which started on a peaceful note few minutes before 5pm on Friday ceased briefly before it restarted at about 6pm and accompanied by violent storms which brought down not less than six electric poles made of concrete.
The high tension cables on the poles connects the 132/133 KVA power substation in Omisanjana and neighbouring towns of Ikere, Ise and Emure.
The affected poles were brought down by the rainstorm within the vicinity of Deeper Life Campground in Ajebamidele, which is a densely populated neighbourhood in the Ekiti State capital.
The main access road which starts from the Ado-Ikere Highway and terminates at Omisanjana has been blocked by the fallen electric poles.
The road, which was constructed by the Biodun Oyebanji Administration was commissioned by Vice President Kashim Shettima in June. The hitherto busy road has been left deserted as a result of the development.
Many residents who were making their way home from their workplaces were stranded for some hours. While some stayed inside their vehicles, others went to hide in nearby shops and houses.
As the rain intensified during the confusion, a good number of motorists had to turn back to take the very longer route of going through Ajilosun, Ijigbo, Ilawe Road to connect their destinations through Omisanjana.
Because of the blockage of the main road by the fallen electric poles, a good number of motorists left their vehicles in some locations and trekked home in frustration.
Apart from the entire Ajebamidele neighbourhood, the development has reportedly thrown neighbouring Omisanjana community and Ikere town into darkness as the affected poles conveyed electricity to them.
Shortly after the rain ceased, some officials of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) visited the scene to access the damaged poles ahead of a possible rescue mission on Saturday.