Body of missing Anambra schoolboy recovered

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The body of six-year-old Success Ezenwafor, a pupil of UNIZIK Primary School, who was swept away by floodwater in Anambra State on Tuesday, has been recovered.

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Success was swept away when a school bus conveying him and other occupants was trapped and overturned by floodwater along the Nibo–Isiagu Road in Awka South Local Government Area.

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Nine other occupants of the vehicle—seven schoolchildren and two adults—were rescued by operatives of the Anambra State Police Command, in collaboration with residents, and taken to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, for treatment.

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Success remained missing until his body was recovered on Wednesday morning during a search operation by the police and community members. His remains were subsequently deposited at the morgue.

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The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday following heavy rainfall across parts of the state.

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The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, had said on Tuesday that the search for the missing pupil was being conducted in collaboration with community members and other relevant stakeholders.

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On Wednesday, the Chairman of Awka South Local Government Area, Prince Chinedu Okafor, who led the rescue operation, confirmed the recovery of the boy’s body.

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Okafor said the other children rescued from the vehicle were in stable condition and receiving treatment at Amaku.

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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.

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“I am at Amaku Teaching Hospital at the moment.

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“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.”

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According to Okafor, Success’ father recalled the boy’s final moments before he left home for school on Tuesday.

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“Success kissed his father on both cheeks, said goodbye and boarded the shuttle bus for school. Tragically, he never returned home.

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“Two other children from the family who were also involved in the incident were fortunately rescued.

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“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.

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Okafor expressed his condolences to the family and prayed for strength for them to bear the loss.

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In a statement, the Ezenwafor family described the incident as a painful loss, saying the other occupants of the vehicle were rescued and taken to Amaku for treatment.

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“With total submission to God, we announce that our little son, Success Ezenwafor, has joined the Church triumphant,” the statement read.

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The family said arrangements were being made to move the remains from Amaku to their hometown, Ula, Ekwulobia.

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Meanwhile, the Anambra State First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo, has urged residents to take greater precautions as flooding continues to affect some communities.

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In a statement issued in Awka on Wednesday, Soludo expressed concern about the flood situation and its potential impact on families, particularly those living in flood-prone areas.

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She urged residents to remain vigilant, heed weather and flood warnings, avoid crossing flooded roads and waterways, and relocate to safer areas whenever their homes or surroundings become unsafe.

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She also urged residents to keep their surroundings clean and desist from dumping refuse in drainage channels, warning that blocked waterways could worsen flooding and endanger lives and property.

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Soludo particularly appealed to parents and guardians to keep children away from floodwaters, drainage channels, streams and other potentially dangerous areas during periods of heavy rainfall.

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She called for increased community awareness and collective responsibility, stressing that early action and responsible environmental practices could help reduce the risks associated with flooding.

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She also encouraged residents to promptly report emergencies requiring urgent intervention to the relevant authorities and urged communities to look out for one another whenever floodwaters begin to rise.

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The First Lady said preparedness, vigilance and responsible environmental practices remained essential to protecting lives and reducing the impact of flooding across the state.

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