By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
Evwreni kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State was recently thrown into devastation as thunderstorm wrecked havoc on the people, pulling down electric poles and rendering persons homeless in the community.
Our correspondent gathered that the storm pulled down over thirty electric poles, forty solar light poles, other electrical gadgets and over twelve residential buildings.
Addressing reporters during an “on the scene visit” at Evwreni where the natural disaster occured, president-general of the kingdom, Chief Kenneth Ukpebitere lamented said, “They called me yesterday, which is on 20th April, 2025 from Evwreni here that there is a natural disaster caused by the thunderstorm which destroyed over thirty electric poles, forty solar light poles, other electrical gadgets and over twelve residential houses.
“Where we are at the moment, is Okpawha community in Evwreni kingdom. The destruction has thrown the entire kingdom into total darkness, rendered some persons homeless as we speak. Many business centres and different trades are forced to close down as a result of the havoc.”
The PG however called on both the Ughelli North local council and the state government to come to their aid
“At least, you can see the level of destruction in the community. We want to at this time call on the chairman of Ughelli North LGA and our state governor to please come to our aid especially to provide shelter for those who are homeless and to also replace all the destroyed poles with real standard poles.
“We are also calling on our sons and daughters especially those in the diaspora and the BEDC, Ughelli Zone to give us the needed support by way of replacing all the destroyed properties. Our people are suffering at the moment. We really need help from the government and individuals,” he said.
Also, the treasurer-general of Evwreni kingdom, Hon. Clement Ishaka, lamented the ravage caused by the thunderstorm ravage as highly disastrous, while describing “the materials used to make the electric poles” as sub-standard, “but yet government officials would approve them for the contractors to use.”
He called on contractors to always use standard materials to build electric poles in order to avoid such calamities in the future, not only in Evwreni kingdom but also in all parts of the state.
Speaking to the BHTO of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Ughelli Zone, Mr. Precious in his office at Otovwodo-Ughelli over the thunderstorm that ravaged the Evwreni kingdom, he said, “We have already been informed about it. Any moment from now, our crew will go there to assess the level of destruction by the thunderstorm. Thereafter, we will prepare our report to send to our headquarters to notify them about the disaster and the urgency it needs to put some certain things in order for the safety and well being of the people.”
Other leaders of the community that also accompanied the president-general during the visit to the scene of disaster were Mr. Sunday Okpare, vice president-general, Mr. Daniel Amrohore, secretary-general and Mr. Andrew Dodo, PRO-General.
