*Destroys properties worth over N2 billion

By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—Properties conservatively put at over N2 billion were yesterday destroyed by a rainstorm that swept across parts of Imo State.

Reports from some local  government areas of the state indicated that the storm, which was the first in the year, destroyed several buildings and cash crops in communities, even as  Vanguard equally observed that within Owerri municipality, several private and public buildings fell to the superior force of the raging storm.

Gov Rochas Okorocha

In Umuoyima village, Owerri municipal, the roof of a building on 145 Douglas Road belonging to Mazi Damian Nze suffered serious damage. He was seen trying to retrieve whatever he could when Vanguard visited the scene of the incident.

In other parts of the municipality, the  Freedom Square, built by the Rochas Okorocha administration, suffered severe damage, while the roof of another government building situated behind the Customary Court of Appeal, CCA, Owerri, was completely blown off by the storm.

At the Customary Court of Appeal, CCA,  Owerri, Judges Chambers, the Administrative Block and Accounts Department  were blown off, as  many vital documents were either soaked or destroyed beyond redemption.

Recounting their experience to Vanguard, the  Deputy Chief Registrar, DCR, Mr. Linus Ekwonye said: “We came to work this morning (yesterday) only to behold the colossal damage done to the Customary Court of Appeal. Judges Chambers, the Accounts Department and Administrative Block suffered severe damages, while varying vital documents were destroyed”.

Continuing, the DCR recalled that part of the damage suffered by the CCA was occasioned by the roof of a building behind the court, which was completely blown off.

Speaking after making an on the spot assessment of the damaged CCT, the Secretary to Imo State Government, Sir Jude Ejiogu said: “This is a natural disaster. Nobody was expecting it. I have seen the extent of the damage. The court and its staff can’t be stopped from discharging their official duties. We need to get things fixed and very fast too”.

The President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Ifeanyi Okpara, pleaded with the state government to quickly come to their aid, adding that even the uncompleted CCA building also suffered some damage.