TALES OF WOE IN IBADAN

For victims of Ibadan flood, Sacred Heart Primary School, on Akinyemi Road, Ring Road, in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area, is not the best of places to live. But they have no choice, having been expelled from the comfort of their homes by flood, which left on its trail tear and agony.

The predicament of the flood victims is understandable. Life in the Sacred Heart refugee camp is, at best, brutish and hell. In one of the six blocks of classrooms in the school, victims' mattresses and pillows litter everywhere. There are about 86 inmates in the camp by September 1, 2011 when Saturday Sun visited.

Some of the victims, especially men, have been going to their places of work from the camp, since, according to their wives, their Lebanese boss would not understand the situation and may get them sack if they fail to report for work.

Mrs. Funmilayo Adeyemi said she reported at the camp on Monday with her husband, 'but my husband has been going to work; he will come back in the evening because his biscuit factory managers will not listen to any excuses for not coming to work.' Many of the women at the camp said they are petty traders and all their goods have been swept away by the flood.

Coordinator of the camp, who is also one of the victims, Pastor Caleb Babatunde of Living Spring Chapel, Oluyole, said a truck load of food stuff that include rice, beans, garri, yam flour, blanket and other items were brought to the camp on Tuesday. He said government's response to the situation has been swift, adding that individuals and organisations have also been coming to donate items.

Saturday Sun gathered that health officials from the Ibadan South-West Local Government Area come around to attend to the victims.

Mrs. Rebecca Oluronke, matron at the camp, said victims with cases of moderate malaria and wounds sustained during the flood have been treated, while those with hypertension and hypotensive have also been treated.

'As result of shock and anxiety during the flood disaster, some of the victims have been confirmed to be suffering from hypertension and hypo-tensive, that is a severe case of hypertension. We have 50 cases of hypertension with about 10 cases of hypo-tensive,' she said.

Despite efforts being made to ensure that the flood victims feel at home at the camps, there are still tales of horror therein, as expressed by some of the inmates.

My husband carried me naked on his shoulder through the flood -Mrs. Adeyemi

One of the victims of the flood, Mrs. Funmi Adeyemi, said she was rescued from the raging flood naked.

According to her, 'what I remembered was that my husband suddenly carried me on his shoulder. He didn't even mind that I was naked. He tried to open the door but the force of the water pushed him back, but he still managed to break another entrance in our house. Even with his height, the water almost covered his head. I know it's by God grace that we escaped from the flood.'

Neighbours ran to my house thinking it was a safe haven - Mrs. Adesanya

For 55-years-old widow, Mrs. Stella Adesanya, also of Oke-Ayo, the thought of the water entering her house never crossed her mind. She was already helping some of her neighbours to move their property to her one room apartment when the unexpected happened.

'That was around 11pm; they had even resolved to sleep in my room but a few minutes later, the water entered my own room too; everything happened so fast.'

She was in the room with her four year old grand daughter, Kemi and some of her neighbours. The flood, according to her, suddenly overran the room and all the occupants were trapped. They were, however, lucky, as the door leading into the house was broken down from outside by youths in the area.

How I cheated death - Grandma
Madam Ruth Obembe, 102 year old great grand ma, also survived by the whiskers. She had come to Ibadan, from her base in Ayedun-Ekiti, in Ekiti State, for a church anniversary in her grand daughter's church and for a regular medical check up. Her daily routines, while in Ekiti are not many: wake up; take her birth by the assistance of her grand children, eat and of course sleep. The story, however, changed last weekend when the flood ravaged the city.

Madam Obembe was at the church, during a vigil, when the flood entered. Tomilola, her grand daughter, had to carry her on the back while they sail through the storming water after her son-in law broke the fence.

After the horrific experience, Obembe wants to return to her base.

I lost everything - Mrs. Smith
Mrs. Christiana Smith, from Akwa Ibom, had a terribly experience. She lost everything she had to the flood. Her shop, located near her house, at Oke-Ayo, as well as her home were swept away.

'Even my children credentials were not spared. I had to come here because nobody will accommodate me with five children,' she lamented.