Residents of many neighborhoods in Ado Ekiti and other towns in Ekiti State have been thrown into darkness as electric poles were destroyed by a rainstorm Friday evening.
Communities affected include Ajebamidele, Omisanjana, Atlas—all in Ado Ekiti—as well as Ikere Ekiti, Ise Ekiti, and Emure Ekiti, which are experiencing power outages due to the destroyed poles.
A heavy rainfall swept across the neighborhoods Friday night and into the early hours of Saturday, leaving many residents stranded and disrupting traffic, social, and economic activities.
The rain, which started some minutes before 5 p.m. on Friday, ceased briefly before restarting around 6 p.m., accompanied by violent storms that brought down no fewer than six concrete electric poles.
The high-tension cables on the poles connect the 132/133 KVA power substation in Omisanjana and neighboring towns of Ikere, Ise and Emure.
The affected poles were brought down by the rainstorm within the vicinity of the Deeper Life Campground in Ajebamidele, a densely populated neighborhood in the Ekiti State capital.
The main access road, which starts from the Ado-Ikere Highway and terminates at Omisanjana, has been blocked by the fallen electric poles.
The road, constructed by the Biodun Oyebanji Administration and commissioned by Vice President Kashim Shettima in June, has been left deserted due to the development.
Many residents on their way home from work were stranded for hours. While some stayed inside their vehicles, others sought shelter in nearby shops and houses.
As the rain intensified during the confusion, a number of motorists had to turn back to take the much longer route through Ajilosun, Ijigbo, and Ilawe Road to reach their destinations via Omisanjana.
It was observed that due to the road blockage caused by the fallen electric poles, many motorists abandoned their vehicles in some locations and trekked home in frustration.
Apart from the Ajebamidele neighborhood, the development has reportedly plunged neighboring Omisanjana community and Ikere town into darkness, as the affected poles supplied electricity to them.
Shortly after the rain subsided, some officials from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) visited the scene to assess the damaged poles ahead of a possible rescue mission on Saturday.
