By Patrick Idowu
Abuja residents are counting their losses after a violent rainstorm swept through several parts of the city on Wednesday night, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in its wake.
The fierce downpour, which lasted for hours, battered communities including Apo, Karu, Jabi and Karmo, tearing roofs off buildings, flattening houses and reducing businesses to rubble.
The storm, described by many as the worst in recent times, has displaced hundreds of residents who are now left to salvage what remains of their belongings.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos as winds howled through the night, ripping through churches, schools, residential homes and makeshift shops.
In some areas, particularly Karu and Apo, over one hundred houses were reported destroyed, leaving families homeless and scrambling for shelter.
At the Apo mechanic village, seven fully furnished apartments were completely levelled by the storm, forcing the occupants into the streets.
The owner, visibly distressed, could do little but watch as his investment lay in ruins.
Oga Christopher, a resident of Apo whose home was badly damaged, expressed deep sorrow over the devastation.
“I was shocked to see the roof of my house pulled off,” he lamented. “As you can see, the rainstorm has caused a lot of damage to my house, but once there is life, by the grace of God, I will rebuild.”
Scenes of residents packing debris and moving salvaged items to safer locations dotted the affected neighbourhoods on Thursday morning, as community leaders called for urgent intervention from the authorities.
So far, no casualties have been reported, but the scale of destruction has reignited calls for better urban planning and disaster preparedness, especially as the rainy season deepens.
