By Paul Joseph
A schoolchild has been swept away by flood in Anambra State, while seven other pupils and two adults were rescued by the state police command.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday along the Nibo–Isiagu Road in Awka South Local Government Area of the state.
The Anambra State Police Command said officers attached to the Safe School initiative, working with concerned community members, responded to the incident and rescued the seven schoolchildren and two adults caught in the flood.
According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the victims were travelling along the affected route when they were caught in the flood.
The statement said the rescued victims were moved to safety, while one other child remained unaccounted for.
Following the incident, the police command activated a search and rescue operation for the missing child.
The operation is being conducted in collaboration with community members and other relevant stakeholders and will continue until the child is found.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Nnanna Ama, directed that the search operation be sustained and expanded to improve the chances of locating the missing child.
Ama also appealed to residents, particularly those living or operating around the affected route, to provide the police and other emergency responders with any information that could assist the search.
The police further advised parents, guardians, school authorities and motorists to exercise extreme caution around flooded roads, bridges and waterways, especially during periods of heavy rainfall.
“Parents and guardians are also advised to ensure that children do not attempt to cross flooded or otherwise dangerous routes,” the command said.
The incident comes amid heightened concerns over the dangers posed by flooding to commuters, schoolchildren and residents in affected communities during the rainy season.
Leave a Reply