By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

A 74-year-old blind man, Stephen Ogbo, has recounted his terrifying experience after a devastating rainstorm destroyed his residence in Abakpa Nike, Enugu metropolis, leaving him trapped in a flooded building for several hours before he was rescued.

Ogbo, a native of Nomeh Unateze in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, said he was unable to escape when strong winds ripped off the roof of the building at Ugbo Ezeji, D-Line, because of his visual impairment.

The incident reportedly affected a residential compound occupied by 23 families, destroying roofs and damaging properties belonging to several residents.

Recounting the frightening experience, Ogbo explained that he remained soaked in rainwater for hours because he could neither see the extent of the destruction nor find his way out of the damaged building.

He said an unidentified female tenant eventually came to his rescue after discovering that he was trapped.

According to him, the woman informed him that the residents had been caught in the storm before holding his hand and guiding him out of the building in search of safety.

“The female tenant came to me after several hours but couldn’t find any way to escape as a blind man. She said: ‘Daddy, we have been trapped by the windstorm,'” he recalled.

Ogbo said he could not identify the woman because of his blindness but remembered that she was the person who helped him escape the dangerous situation.

“I do not know the name of the woman who came to my rescue, but the voice was a woman’s voice,” he added.

The elderly man disclosed that he had lived in the compound for approximately eight years before the disaster occurred.

For the affected residents, the storm turned an ordinary evening into a frightening experience, leaving many of them homeless and struggling to recover their damaged belongings.

However, assistance has started reaching the victims following their public appeal for help.

Chief Kingsley Chizoba Nweke, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Enugu East Senatorial District, has commenced the reconstruction of the damaged residential building after watching a video in which the affected residents appealed for assistance.

Nweke visited the community after being moved by the victims’ situation and announced that building materials had been purchased while contractors had been mobilised to begin work.

He expressed sadness over the extent of the destruction, particularly the damage to the building’s roof and other parts of the structure.

The politician explained that he decided to intervene after watching the residents speak about their difficult situation.

He said the reconstruction exercise had already commenced, adding that the immediate objective was to restore the damaged structures and make it possible for the families to return to their homes.

Nweke also explained that the project would involve strengthening affected sections of the building and replacing damaged roofing materials.

“My priority is to make sure they get back to their houses and keep living again,” he said.

Addressing concerns about the political implications of his intervention, Nweke insisted that his decision was purely humanitarian and had nothing to do with party affiliations.

He maintained that he would have offered assistance regardless of the political interests of the affected residents.

According to him, helping people facing difficult circumstances should not be determined by their political beliefs.

Nweke further disclosed that supporting people who had lost their jobs and means of livelihood was part of his broader humanitarian activities.

He said the intervention in Abakpa Nike was only a small part of the assistance he had been providing to people in need.

Another resident, Mrs Promise Ugochukwu, who also serves as a woman leader in the community, described the rainstorm as a devastating experience.

She disclosed that the incident occurred between 9pm and 10pm when powerful winds tore off the building’s roof, allowing rainwater to destroy household belongings.

Ugochukwu expressed appreciation to Nweke for responding to their appeal and commencing the reconstruction work.

She described his intervention as a response to her desperate call for assistance.

“When I cried out to my father, Odaa Opuo (Nweke), the man whom I trusted, he answered me,” she said.

Ogbo also expressed gratitude to the politician for coming to the residents’ aid, offering prayers for God’s guidance and success in his political career.

For the 23 families affected by the disaster, the rebuilding exercise represents an important step towards restoring their homes, replacing damaged belongings and recovering from the incident.

However, Ogbo’s experience has also highlighted the vulnerability of people living with disabilities during emergencies.

While he may never know the identity of the woman who rescued him, her decision to help him escape the destroyed building remains a significant part of his story.

Her intervention gave the elderly man a chance to find safety during one of the most frightening moments of his life.