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Rainstorm wreaks havoc in Lagos 
  • Private, religious homes affected
  • Over 500 children cheat death as storm ravaged Catholic Church
 About 500 children of the Saint Monica Catholic Church, Mazamaza in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area (LGA) on Sunday cheated death as early morning rain storm wreak havoc on the Church destroying the roof of the church building.

According to Mr. Emmanuel Ukwuji, Chairman of the Church’s Fundraising Committee for the new main building under construction, and the Publicity Secretary of the committee, Hyginus Onu, Over 500 children gathered at the affected church building  for the early morning mass when the incident occurred.
“This storm struck around past 8 am.

 We had concluded the first mass for the adults.

 The second mass is usually for the children. The storm blew a major part of the roof of the temporary building and heavy rainfall rushed into the church and forced everyone to scamper to safety.

 We thank God that there were a good number of elderly people around in the church who swiftly carried scared and traumatized children to a safe place within the church’s premises.

“The incident caused a serious panic and pandemonium as the entire church was flooded. Some elders even fell into the drainage by the church while rescuing the children.

 Part of the wall of the church also collapsed and to fix what is damaged would amount to about N5 million.

 But we thank God that we didn’t record any serious casualty. The only obvious thing that happened was that the innocent children were traumatized by the rainstorm incident.

“We immediately sent words to the Lagos State leader, Archbishop of Lagos Diocese, His Eminence Adewale Martins and he promptly heed our call and is here now addressing parishioners and extending his support and care.

“What is likely to happen now is that we would start to use the money being already gathered for our main church building that the foundation has already been laid, to repair the affected temporary church auditorium. “
Archbishop Adewale Martins assured that the church in collaboration with good spirited members of the public would assist in the repairs.

“The pain of one is the pain of all. Obviously, the church would not bear the pain alone. We have our way of soliciting support for funds to repair the wrecked roof.” He told the reporter.

Similarly, several persons  have been rendered homeless in Lagos following a heavy rainstorm, which blew off roofs of residential buildings, churches, mosques and schools in the metropolis.
The rain, which began at about 8.00am, lasted for about 35 minutes but left tears and sorrow in many homes.

The Palm Sunday was not well celebrated by most churches due to the early morning rain.
At Ijaiye Street, in Ajegunle area of the metropolis many buildings were affected as the rain devastated the  Ajeromi Public Primary School in the area.

Part of the roof of the three -storey building housing Christ The King Primary School, Orodu Street, Ajegunle was also affected.

Worshippers at the Redeemed Christian Church of God at Queens street, scampered to safety as the roof almost collapsed on them.

Gospel Baptist Church, along Oregie Road and Redeemers Kingdom Church, Kanjowon Street, all in Ajegunle were no spared.

A eyewitness who was identified  as Ola Komolafe said the storm blew off the roof of a  storey building hosting a mosque and a Muslim school called Mohinatu Ibrahimiyat Arabic School, on Moshalashi Lane.

It was  gathered that the roof of a-storey building on No 40, Okito Street in the same area was blown off and it fell on a nearby bungalow.

Dozens of residents abandoned their homes and carried their children to a safer area after their roofs were blown open by the storm.

A resident who was identified as Andrew Udoh said there is no street in Ajegunle that did  not have a bad tale on the rain.

“Immediately the wind blew off our roof, I moved my wife and three children into a vehicle and drove to my brother’s residence at Awodiora area of Ajegunle but unfortunately the rainstorm also blew off the roof of my brother’s house,  It is quite unfortunate.”

In Ebutte Metta area, it was the same story althrough several buildings including the police barracks were affected.

Amukoko and Ijora areas of Lagos seemed to be the worst hit, as many people from those areas complained that Ajegunle incident was better, compared to theirs.

At Ijora Daily Sun reliably gathered that the Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witness on Town Hall street and many houses were affected. A roof of a two-storey building that was blown off flew to a major road in the area causing serious traffic snarl.


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