It was a moment of grief, sorrow and tears as indigenes of ogboloma Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, a suberb of the state metropolitan area scampered for safety as a devastating wind which lasted for four hours at the evening of Wednesday destroyed over 30 electric poles,as the poles fell and destroyed buildings, farm lands, shops and other economic activities in the area.
The strong wind accompanied by the heavy downpour on Wednesday left behind untold hardship and losses in the Gbarain community leaving many residents homeless as the hope for power supply for the people of Kolokuma, Sagbama and other neighbouring local government areas is also left hanging as many residents described the wind storm as unprecedented and natural disaster of the century for the people in the area with impact affecting every household in the area and Bayelsa State at large.
The people of Ogboloma community while speaking to newsmen lamented that the wind destroyed houses and properties worth millions of Naira on Wednesday but thanked God that no life was lost in the process.
The residents noted that the situation is beyond them as they cry for help sending a save our soul (SOS) to the Bayelsa State Ministry of power, the Governor Douye Diri led prosperity government to perform a miracle to rewrite the power history of the people,multinationals such as Shell Petroleum Development Company SPDC, interventionist agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Federal Government to intervene as all electric polls and transformers in some sections in the community were not left out of the destruction.
Also speaking the President of the Apex Youth group,Gbarain Youths Federation, Comr. Pere Orufa explained that the level of damage the community incurred as a result of the wind has called for an emergency response to bring succour to the people as indigenes are left hopeless and faced with the devastating consequences of the wind fall. He thanked God that no live was lost in the process but further appeal for prompt response as the people had continued to wallow in pains following the wind fall.
Victims of the wind, including Dada Okpurubia, Joshua Wilson Ebiye, Chief Bruce Duba, Chief Timipa Oweifa, Vicar of Saint Paul’s Anglican church, Ogboloma, Venerable Emanuel Ikoni, Elder Wari Tei Ebi,( 92 year old oldest man of the community) and many others appealed to the state government and the multi national oil companies operating in Gbarain to come to the aid of the people of ogboloma community adding that the level of damage caused by the wind will be difficult for the people to recover on time.
Economic activities such as shops were affected leading to complete halt for business activities as public facilities in the community were not also spared as churches, Health care center, Schools and other government properties were adversely affected.
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