Adeleke Pledges Relief as Saturday Rainstorm Wreaks Havoc in Osogbo

​OSOGBO – Residents of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, are currently counting their losses following a devastating rainstorm on Saturday evening that displaced scores of families and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.

​The torrential downpour, which began late Saturday, March 28, 2026, was accompanied by fierce winds that ripped off the roofs of residential buildings, churches, and commercial hubs. The most hit areas include Testing Ground, Oke Oniti, Awosuru, Gbongan Road, Oke Baale, Ogo-Oluwa, and Olaiya.

​Path of Destruction

​Beyond residential damage, the storm crippled infrastructure across the city. At the Aregbe axis, a massive billboard was toppled by the wind, crashing onto a soft drink distribution truck and obstructing traffic for several hours. Reports also indicate that several electric poles and streetlights were pulled down, leading to power outages in parts of the metropolis.

​A resident of the Ogo-Oluwa area, Mr. Adeniyi Oluwafemi, described the experience as “terrifying,” noting that his electronics and vital documents were soaked after his roof was completely blown away. Similarly, Pastor Israel, whose church in the Testing Ground area was severely affected, appealed for urgent government intervention.

​”The scale of the displacement is high. Many people have nowhere to sleep tonight. We need the government to provide succour and relief materials to ease this trauma,” the cleric stated.

​Government Response

​Reacting to the disaster on Sunday, Governor Ademola Adeleke expressed deep sympathy for the victims, describing the incident as “sad, ugly, and unfortunate.”

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​In a statement released by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the Governor assured residents that the Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA) has been mandated to assess the extent of the damage and provide necessary relief to offset the losses.

​”I feel deeply touched and alarmed by this incident,” the Governor said. “My administration will put in place all morally and officially possible measures to support the victims. I have also directed the Ministry of Works to clear the motorways immediately to prevent further accidents.”

​Climate Change Warnings

​Governor Adeleke attributed the increasing frequency of such natural disasters to the global climate crisis. He urged Osun residents to take proactive measures, including tree planting and halting the indiscriminate felling of trees, to serve as windbreaks and mitigate the impact of future storms.

​Officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and state officials remained on-site in several locations on Sunday morning, coordinating traffic as residents worked to salvage their belongings and begin emergency repairs.