The body of six-year-old Success Ezenwafor, a pupil of UNIZIK Primary School, who was carried away by flood in Anambra State on Tuesday, has been found.
Success was swept away when a school bus carrying him and other occupants became trapped and overturned in floodwater along the Nibo–Isiagu Road in Awka South Local Government Area.
Nine other occupants of the vehicle—seven schoolchildren and two adults—were rescued by operatives of the Anambra State Police Command, working together with residents, and taken to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, for treatment.
Success was still unaccounted for until his body was recovered on Wednesday morning during a search operation carried out by the police and community members. His remains were later deposited at the morgue.
The incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday after heavy rainfall across parts of the state.
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, had said on Tuesday that the search for the missing pupil was being conducted together with community members and other relevant stakeholders. ↻
On Wednesday, the Chairman of Awka South Local Government Area, Prince Chinedu Okafor, who led the rescue operation, confirmed that the boy’s body had been recovered.
He said, “The body of the missing child, Success Ezenwafor, has been recovered. The other children are in stable condition and receiving medical treatment at the hospital.
“I am at Amaku Teaching Hospital at the moment.
“We commiserate deeply with the Ezenwafor family over this heartbreaking loss. I spoke with a member of the family, who said they are understandably distraught.”
Okafor stated that Success’ father recalled the boy’s final moments before he left home for school on Tuesday.
“Success kissed his father on both cheeks, said goodbye, and boarded the shuttle bus for school. Tragically, he never returned home.
“Two other children from the family who were also involved in the incident were fortunately rescued.
“The family member described Success as a brave boy. According to him, Success broke one of the vehicle’s windows, creating an escape route through which others were able to get out. Sadly, he could not make it to safety himself,” he said.
Okafor offered his condolences to the family and prayed that they would be given the strength to endure the loss.
In a statement, the Ezenwafor family called the incident a painful loss, noting that the other occupants of the vehicle were rescued and taken to Amaku for treatment.
“With total submission to God, we announce that our little son, Success Ezenwafor, has joined the Church triumphant,” the statement read.
The family stated that arrangements were underway to move the remains from Amaku to their hometown, Ula, Ekwulobia.
In the meantime, the First Lady of Anambra State, Dr. Nonye Soludo, has called on residents to take more precautions as flooding continues to affect some communities.
In a statement released in Awka on Wednesday, Soludo voiced concern over the flood situation and its possible impact on families, especially those residing in flood-prone areas.
She called on residents to stay alert, pay attention to weather and flood warnings, steer clear of flooded roads and waterways, and move to safer ground whenever their homes or surroundings become unsafe.
She likewise encouraged residents to keep their surroundings tidy and to stop dumping refuse into drainage channels, cautioning that clogged waterways could intensify flooding and put lives and property at risk.
Soludo made a special appeal to parents and guardians to keep children away from floodwaters, drainage channels, streams, and other risky spots during heavy rainfall.
She appealed for greater community awareness and shared responsibility, emphasizing that acting early and adopting responsible environmental habits could help lower the risks linked to flooding.
She further encouraged residents to report emergencies needing urgent intervention to the appropriate authorities without delay and urged communities to watch out for one another whenever floodwaters start to rise.
According to the First Lady, preparedness, vigilance, and responsible environmental practices remain vital for protecting lives and lessening the impact of flooding throughout the state.
