Rainstorm wrecks havoc in UNIBEN, pulled off building roof, destroys ATM mask

By Angela James

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Sunday evening rainstorm in Edo state has wrecked havoc at University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ugbowo Campus, causing panic among students and staff.

The storm uprooted some trees which serve as windbreaker and the roofing sheet of some of the buildings were pulled off, while broken branches of the trees hindered free movement.

The wind also removed the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) mask belonging to one of the generation Banks and slammed it on top of the Computer Science Department, housing staff offices.

Recall that the Vice-chancellor of the University, Prof. Faraday Orumwense flag-off tree planting campaign at the Campuses of the Institution in July 2017 to mitigate potential disasters.

The disaster did not spare the Senate building, main and e-library, Hall 5 undergraduate students’ hostel, while Faculty of Engineering main building, Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) and residential quarters were also affected.

Also affected are the 1000 lecture theatre, Faculty of Arts, lecture theatre, Department of Environmental Sciences, and offices at the Faculty of Physical Sciences.

At on the spot-assessment of the damage done by the rainstorm on Monday, the Vice-chancellor of the Institution, some students and staff, salvaged property from the flood.

He appealed to the Federal and Edo state governments as well as spirited organizations should assist this Institution.

Orumwense who was accompanied the visit by the spokesman of the Institution, Mr. Michael Osasuyi, describe the incident as unfortunate and urged the students to be calm.

The VC assured that the tree planting will be sustained; assuring that the University will carry out a palliative to cushion the effects of the storm.

He appealed to the University staff and lecturers whose offices were affected by the disaster to cheer up.

“It is unfortunate. The damage is enormous. We need the intervention of Edo state and then Federal government. They should come to our rescue. Some roofs were removed”, he said.