Windstorm wreaks havoc in Asaba, damages buildings, disrupts traffic

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Residents and business owners in Asaba, the Delta State capital, were thrown into panic on Friday as a heavy rainstorm accompanied by strong winds swept through parts of the city, leaving a trail of destruction and disrupting normal activities.

One of the worst-hit locations was the busy Ibusa Junction along Nnebisi Road, where the roof of a storey building was ripped off by the wind and hurled onto the roadway, completely blocking traffic. The impact also brought down a high-tension electricity cable, creating safety concerns and causing severe gridlock in the area.

Motorists were forced to seek alternative routes, with many diverting through the Koka axis as authorities worked to clear the obstruction.

“It was frightening. The wind was so strong that within minutes the entire roof was airborne and landed on the road,” an eyewitness recounted.

The storm also caused extensive damage to shops, market stalls, and other commercial structures around the city. Roofing sheets were torn off and scattered across roads, while traders and residents rushed for safety as the weather intensified.

In another major incident, a large billboard reportedly collapsed onto a car showroom, destroying several vehicles, including luxury Mercedes-Benz cars and other high-value automobiles. Several other billboards were also brought down by the storm, with some crashing onto roads and properties.

The powerful winds reportedly uprooted electricity poles in some areas, raising concerns over power outages and public safety. Residents along the Okpanam Road corridor also lamented worsening erosion and flooding, which further damaged sections of the roadway.

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, has reiterated the Command’s commitment to professional policing, human rights compliance, and public safety during a supervisory tour of strategic security locations along the Ughelli–Patani Expressway.

The tour, conducted on Thursday, June 5, covered key flashpoints and security checkpoints, including Edjekota Junction, Evwreni Junction, Ohoro Junction, and other stop-and-search points along the busy expressway.