Osun Flooding: Residents Fear River Overflow as Heavy Rain Damages Ilesa-Ijaregbe Bridge

Residents living close to the Osun River in Osogbo have expressed fears over possible flooding after torrential rainfall caused the river to overflow its banks in parts of Osun State.

The heavy downpour lasted several hours on Monday, leaving residents of areas including Oke-Arugbo Estate and other communities near the river worried that rising water levels could reach their homes. By Tuesday, water levels had receded, easing some of the immediate fears of residents.

At Oke-Arugbo Estate, residents said they remained concerned about the possibility of another heavy rainfall. One resident, Atinuke, said the river was already full and feared that continued rainfall could overwhelm drainage systems and force water into nearby houses.

Another resident, Fatima Adeniyi, said some households had begun moving valuables to safer areas of their homes as a precaution. Tunde Kelani, whose house is located along the Osun River, also expressed concern that another downpour could cause water levels to rise again.

The flooding affected several areas of Osogbo, the state capital, as well as parts of Ijesaland. The heavy rainfall also exposed vulnerabilities in road infrastructure, with the Ilesa-Ijaregbe link bridge in Obokun Local Government Area reportedly suffering major damage.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government has established a Special Task Force on Environmental Sanitation to strengthen enforcement of environmental laws across the state. The task force will be chaired by the Head of Service, Samuel Ayanleye Aina, with Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation Mayowa Adejoorin serving as deputy.

According to Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the task force will focus on environmental violations, particularly indiscriminate dumping of waste in drains, roadsides and other areas. The government said blocked drainage channels and poor waste disposal could increase environmental risks during heavy rainfall.

The latest flooding concerns come after an earlier federal government warning about rising water levels in Osun State. Residents in communities close to the Osun River are now watching the situation closely, hoping water levels continue to fall and further heavy rainfall does not worsen the situation.