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A pupil of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Primary School, Awka, Anambra State, Success Ezenwafor, has died after floodwaters swept away the school shuttle bus conveying him and other pupils at the Ring Road area of the town.
Ezenwafor was among schoolchildren travelling in the bus when it was overtaken by floodwaters along the Awka-Nibo-Nise-Enugwu-Ukwu Ring Road , Awka South Local Government of the state.
His body was recovered on Tuesday during a search operation following the incident.
Uche Nworah, former Managing Director of the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), disclosed the development in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Nworah said the recovery of the pupil’s body was confirmed by the Mayor of Awka South Local Government Area, Chinedu Okafor, who was involved in the rescue operation.
“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,” Okafor was quoted as saying.
According to Nworah, Ezenwafor’s parents reported him missing on Tuesday, shortly after heavy rainfall triggered flooding in the area.
Two other children from the Ezenwafor family were also reportedly in the vehicle but were rescued.
A family member told Nworah that the deceased pupil helped create an escape route for some of the children trapped inside the vehicle before he was swept away by the floodwaters.
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The family member said Ezenwafor broke one of the vehicle’s windows, enabling some of the children to escape.
“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,” Nworah reported.
The incident has renewed concerns over the dangers posed by flooding along roads and other parts of Awka following heavy rainfall.
Nworah also recounted the boy’s final moments with his father before he left home for school on Tuesday.
According to the account, Ezenwafor kissed his father on both cheeks, said goodbye and boarded the school shuttle.
“He tragically never returned home,” Nworah said.
The other children involved in the incident were rescued and taken to Amaku Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
The death of the young pupil has plunged his family and community into mourning, while the reported efforts he made to help other children escape have become part of the family’s account of the tragedy.
Rescue personnel and residents involved in the operation continued efforts to assist those affected by the flooding and ensure that survivors received necessary medical attention.
