By Samuel Olusegun Precious
The body of six-year-old Success Ezenwafor, who went missing after the vehicle conveying them to school upturned in floodwaters along Nibo – Isiagu Ring Road, has been found, 24 hours after the incident.
Success, a pupil of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Primary School, Awka, and native of Ula Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA, died on Monday after the school bus conveying him and nine others was trapped by flood following a heavy downpour.What happened:Heavy rain, which lasted from 1am Monday to 3pm Tuesday, submerged roads, markets and schools across Awka South.
A school bus conveying pupils to UNIZIK Primary School got stuck at the flooded Nibo – Isiagu Ring Road axis. Nine other occupants — seven pupils and two adults — were rescued alive by operatives of the Anambra State Police Command’s Safe School Initiative with help from residents.
They were rushed to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, where they are receiving treatment.Success was carried away by the strong current and was declared missing until his body was recovered on Tuesday morning.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, while confirming the incident, said Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, had ordered an expanded search for the missing child and warned parents, schools and motorists to avoid flooded roads during heavy rainfall.
Announcing the death, the family said:”With total submission to God, we announce that our little son, Success Ezenwafor, has joined the Church triumphant. Every other occupant of the vehicle was rescued and taken to Amaku where they are recovering well except for Success, whom the flood carried away.”
The family said arrangements have been concluded to move his remains from COOUTH morgue to his hometown in Ula, Ekwulobia for burial.The flood also collapsed two buildings and pulled down over 20 fences at Oguguo Nebe Road off Miracle Junction, a link road to agrarian communities in Awka North — Mgbakwu, Okpuno, Urum, Achala, Amanuke and onwards to Kogi State.
Residents had warned days earlier that neglect of the road and blocked drainages would lead to disaster if the government failed to intervene.The Anambra State Government is yet to react to the incident as of press time.
