Anambra flood: Pupil missing as police rescue nine

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A schoolchild is missing after a flood swept through a section of the Nibo–Isiagu Road in the Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, with the police launching a search operation for the child.

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Nine persons, comprising seven schoolchildren and two adults, were rescued from the flooded route following heavy rainfall across parts of the state between Monday and Tuesday.

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The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when the victims, who were travelling along the route, were caught in the flood.

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The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the rescue operation was carried out by the command’s Safe School Operatives in collaboration with members of the affected community.

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According to him, the operatives swiftly mobilised to the scene after receiving information about the incident and succeeded in moving seven schoolchildren and two adults to safety.

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However, Ikenga said one other child involved in the incident remained unaccounted for as of Tuesday, prompting the command to activate sustained search and rescue operations.

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He said the search was being conducted in collaboration with community members and relevant stakeholders and would continue until the missing child was found.

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The statement partly read, “The Anambra State Police Command, through its Safe School Operatives, in collaboration with concerned members of the community, has rescued nine persons following a flood incident along the Nibo–Isiagu Road, Awka.

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“The incident occurred in the early hours of today, September 22, 2026, when some school children and adults were caught up in the flood while travelling along the affected route.

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“However, one additional child involved in the incident is still unaccounted for. The command has consequently activated sustained search and rescue operations in the affected area.”

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Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Nnanna Ama, directed that the search operation be sustained and expanded until the missing child was located.

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Ama also appealed to residents, particularly those living or operating around the affected route, to provide the police and other responding agencies with information that could assist in the search.

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The CP urged parents, guardians, school authorities and motorists to exercise extreme caution around flooded roads, bridges and waterways during periods of heavy rainfall.

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He particularly advised parents and guardians to ensure that children did not attempt to cross flooded or otherwise dangerous routes.

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The command said it would continue to strengthen collaboration with communities and relevant agencies under the Safe School Initiative to prevent avoidable loss of lives during emergencies.

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