Anambra police warn families after pupil dies in flood incident

The Anambra State Police Command has warned residents to take heightened precautions during persistent rainfall and flooding, particularly to protect schoolchildren travelling to and from school. The command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said in a statement on Wednesday that the alert followed flooding in parts of the state that resulted in the death of a pupil. The child, identified as Success Ezenwafor, was a pupil of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Primary School.

He was travelling to school last Tuesday when the bus carrying him and other occupants became trapped and overturned in floodwaters at Isiagu, in Awka South Local Government Area. According to the police, nine other people in the vehicle survived. They included seven schoolchildren and two adults, who were rescued by police operatives working with local residents.

The survivors were taken to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, for medical attention, the command said. Success was swept away by the floodwaters and remained missing until his remains were recovered the following morning. The police urged parents, guardians and caregivers to exercise vigilance and take necessary safety measures in response to the continuing rain and flooding.

The command’s warning followed the rescue operation and recovery of the child’s remains, but the statement did not specify additional restrictions on school transport or travel.