Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State

Rainstorm has rendered homeless a widow, Madam Rosemary Udo and her eight children, in Use Ikot Ebio, Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

Udo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Use Ikot Ebio that she now squats with her neighbours after the roof and walls of her house were blown off by the rainstorm.

She said the incident happened on Tuesday after hours of rain which significantly destroyed the building, their personal effects, food, children’s school items and other household items.

She appealed to Akwa Ibom Government, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and well spirited individuals to come to their rescue.

Udo, who is about 65 years, explained that since the death of her husband, she had been the one taking care of the children.

According to her, she lacks the resources to restore the nine bedroom family residence to a state fit for human habitation without assistance.

She also told NAN that the rainstorm apart from removing the roof of the building destroyed the household’s plantain stands and subjected the entire family to hardship.

“We went to farm that day, except little children who came from school, only to come back and met our house without roof and walls.

“Since the rain removes our roof two weeks ago, we have been sleeping in the veranda and at the mercy of our good neighbours.

“My children have also been  subjected to the harsh weather and insects bite day and night,” she said.

Collaborating the widow’s agony, Mr Emmanuel Udo, one of the surviving sons of late Chief Edward Udo Odok, said that the extent of damage done to the building was beyond his capacity .

He also told NAN that the children were badly affected as they were exposed to harsh weather condition since they were sleeping and squatting in the affected building without roof over them.

He said: “I stayed in Odukpani, Cross River State managing myself only to be informed that my father’s house where the family is staying has been blown off by rainstorm.

“I rushed home to meet my father’s house without roof. The rain also destroyed a lot of economic trees, like coconut and plantain that help to keep the family going,” he said.

NAN recalls that the rainstorm also affected electricity poles belonging to Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) along Abak road axis.

A number of electricity poles were pulled down in the wake of the rainstorm.

It also affected the University of Uyo Teaching hospital (UUTH) where it removed the mortuary roof, destroyed Radiology Department, the House Officers quarters and Pediatrics ward among other facilities.

(NAN)