Pupil Swept Away by Flood While Returning from School in Lagos

A primary six pupil identified as Joshua was swept away by floodwaters in the Ikosi, Ketu area of Lagos State while returning home from school.

The sad incident happened on Taiwo Street, as Joshua and his colleagues were caught in the heavy rains. His mother, a fruit seller, expressed profound grief and despair over the loss of her only child. “Joshua died hungry and cold. He was supposed to write his common entrance exam,” she lamented, noting that they had been living in a temporary shelter after losing their home to a fire.

A local youth leader, Oloyede, recounted the harrowing moment. “I saw the children in the rain and warned them to be careful. The plank bridging the canal was submerged, and they fell into the drainage. I managed to rescue one, but Joshua was swept away by the heavy currents,” he said.

Community leaders criticized the government for leaving a drainage project unfinished, exacerbating the area’s flooding issues. “In January, the government began a drainage project but abandoned it, leaving us with this danger every time it rains,” one leader stated.

Attempts to reach Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos police for comments were unsuccessful.