The Ekiti State Government has appealed to residents not to panic following the discovery of the dead body of a man, suspected to be commercial motorcyclist, inside Ureje River, in Ado Ekiti, on Saturday.
Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, made the appeal when she led a team of government officials to Ureje River, along Ado-Ijan-Ikare road, to supervise the movement of the corpse to the morgue of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital.
The residents of Ureje, a suburb of Ado Ekiti metropolis, had woken up to see the lifeless body of a man inside Ureje River, which prompted Governor Biodun Oyebanji to deploy the delegation to the spot.
Addressing the residents, Mrs Afuye, in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, said the team suspected that the victim must have drowned during the Friday’s evening torrential downpour that led to flooding in some sections of the state.
Mrs Afuye promised that the government will collaborate with security agencies to investigate the matter and unravel the cause of the victim’s death.
The Deputy Governor added that documents like ATM Card and other identification materials found on the deceased will be used to identify him.
She assured that Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s government will spare no effort to curtail flooding and safeguard the lives and property of the people through effective policies and initiatives.
“Governor Oyebanji was not happy about this terrible and sad event. He was not happy hearing that someone died inside flood. It is our prayer that you live to enjoy the dividends of democracy this government is putting in place for you.
“Some of these deaths can be avoided. There is no point driving or trekking during torrential rainfall that can suddenly cause flooding. When you notice that rain is falling, park your car or motorcycle and stay wherever you can be safe as a commuter or pedestrian.
“The governor has been doing much to prevent flooding in Ekiti. You can all see the level of dredging this government had done on main valleys and places susceptible to flooding in Ado Ekiti metropolis.
“If the government was doing these, try and complement our efforts by taking precautionary measures that can protect your lives,” she advised.
The Deputy Governor visited the spot alongside the Chairman, Ado Local Government, Bosun Osaloni, Commissioner for Environment, Mrs Tosin Ajisafe- Aluko, Director General, Community Communications, Mrs Mary Oso-Omotoso, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr Babatunde Alokan,
Others in the delegation are the General Manager, Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Oludare Asaolu, Divisional Police Officer, Ado Ekiti Division, Mr Ibrahim Sanusi, among others.
