Biseni residents count losses after thunder storm

To the residents of Biseni axis of Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Monday March 5, 2018 was not an ordinary day in the history of the oil community.

A thunderstorm visited and left the people, who are predominantly fishermen and subsistent farmers, with a tale of woes and loss of property.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the town was asleep on a fateful day, when suddenly the weather changed in a manner indicating it would rain.

Predictably, the rain started as a slight shower which turned a violent storm accompanied with thunder, destroyingproperties, ranging from houses, including schools and churches, and livestock.

A member representing Yenagoa constituency three in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Honourable. Gentle Emelah, promptly visited the scenes and the victims with a view to drawing the attention of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to the plight of his devastated constituents.

Also, the member representingYenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma federal constituency, Honourable Douye Diri visited the community with relief materials to help them make shift-camps to alleviate their plight at the time.

But today, the news of relief and respite to the people is no longer the case, as even attempts by stakeholders from the area to get help from multinationals that drilled crude oil from the area has failed.

Playing host to environmental field workers led by the coordinator Environmental Rights Action and Friends Of The Earth, Comrade Morris Alagoain company of some journalists, the paramount ruler of Kilama community,Chief Difference Nemigha expressed his shock at the incident.

“We never experienced something like this in my 60 years of living. Our people have been rendered homeless, electric poles broken down, cassava and plantain farms, all damaged. So, we need government support. They should find a way to send us relief materials because we are dying in pain,” the traditional ruler said.

Recalling the incident, he said: “It happened around 4:00pm. The storm was accompanied with rain. What we could describe as a similar incidenthappened some years ago, but it could not be compared to this one.

“The other one that occurred in the past removed the roof of only one building. Since then we never had such experience until this one I have asked the community secretary to take inventory of all affected buildings, farms and infrastructure. He is still on that task to give the exact figure of damaged or affected properties for now.”

A farmer, Mr Godhelp Okorobia also said: “On that day, we were in a family gathering. That was about 5pm.There was a sign of little rain and within a short while, this storm started. We were still unaware of what was to come. My father’s house was opposite where we were gathered. The next thing we saw was that the roof of my father’s house was gone.”

A widow, Madam May Zuku, also shared her experience: “I was inside my room when I heard the sound of strong wind.  After awhile, I noticed the ceiling was breaking. So, I decided to leave the room with the little girl that was with me in the room. By the time we got to the veranda, the wind was there and had already taken away the roof of the sitting room and my kitchen.

‘’The two incidents have given me so much concern and pain. There is no hope of fixing the roof soon. I am appealing to the government and public spirited persons to, at leastassist me re-roof the building so that I can have shelter. Since the death of my husband, I have been helpless.

“My heart is heavy and putting these incidents together gives me great concern. I am not certain of my real age, but I am above 70 years;considering my age mates who are alive.”

Another victim, Ogiama Mark Solomon, recounted, “This farm belongs to my aunt, that is,my mother’s younger sister. The rainstorm on that fateful day destroyed the entire farm. My aunt is a farmer and she takes care of herself and her children through farming.

“The heavy breeze destroyed the whole farm, including the roof and ceiling of their building close to the farm. Occupants of the building are suffering the impact of the damaged roof as they can no longer remain intheir rooms when it rains.

“I am using this medium to appeal to the government to come to their assistance by way of relief materials’’.

A survivor, Gift Otufu, who escaped death from one of the electric polesthat fell on his kiosk, said: “When the rain started I was with a littlebaby in my kiosk. When the rain began I never suspected that the rain wouldbe this destructive.

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“But when the wind became strong I decided to take my child inside thehouse. Soon as I just carried my child and was about moving, I saw the poleas it fell on my building. I withdrew immediately to one corner and watchedas it landed on the ground, damaging my roof, table where I used to stay andsell. The things I was selling, groundnut and others were scattered and destroyed.”

However, when Hon. Diri visited, he promised to send a team of propertyevaluators to assess and analyse the impact of recent rainstorm, saying the evaluation of destruction was an urgent action to guideanyone or groups coming with support and relief.

“We will also follow up on international oil companies, follow up withgovernment ministries, agencies and departments at federal and state levelsto take urgent relief action.”

The youth President of Biseni Community, Mr. ApamaPrisu, said till date noform of assistance had come to the community.

“We the community dwellers are trying to put up something to see how we canraise the pole and stay out of darkness.”

While appealing to government for assistance, he said: “the Federal agencies,individual donors, government and our representatives should assist us from this crisis, adding that it’s painful that indigenes are now using their monies to erect poles in the community.

“We appreciate our representative in the Federal House of Representatives who gave us some monies to get valuers who came to ascertain the level of damage in the area.

“The violent storm continued for a while and we were trapped until after it subsided before we came out from the hall. As we came out, we saw everywhere scattered, electric poles; everything off. We were confused and helpless.

“People living in the affected buildings have been rendered homeless. Seven of my tenants are now homeless. My properties, including roofing sheets and ceiling, have been destroyed. But my furniture in thesitting room was not affected. That was what happened.”