The body of six-year-old Success Ezenwafor, a pupil of UNIZIK Primary School, has been recovered after he was swept away by floodwater in Anambra State.
Success was among 10 people travelling in a school bus when the vehicle was trapped and overturned by floodwater along the Nibo–Isiagu Road in Awka South Local Government Area.
Seven other schoolchildren and two adults were rescued by operatives of the Anambra State Police Command, working with local residents.
The survivors were taken to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, where they are receiving treatment.
Success remained missing until Wednesday, when police and community members recovered his body during a search operation.
His remains were subsequently deposited at a morgue.
Chairman of Awka South Local Government Area, Prince Chinedu Okafor, who led the rescue operation, confirmed the recovery.
“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,” Okafor said.
He added: “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.”
According to Okafor, Success’s father recalled that the boy kissed him goodbye before leaving home for school on the morning of the incident.
“Success kissed his father on both cheeks, said goodbye and boarded the shuttle bus for school. Tragically, he never returned home,” he said.
Okafor said two other children from the family were among those rescued.
He also said the family described Success as a brave boy who helped others escape from the overturned vehicle.
“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,” Okafor said.
The incident occurred after heavy rainfall across parts of Anambra.
Police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga had said officers were searching for the missing pupil in collaboration with community members and other stakeholders.
The Ezenwafor family described Success’s death as a painful loss, saying 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 family said in a statement.
The family said arrangements were being made to move his remains from Amaku to their hometown, Ula, Ekwulobia.
Meanwhile, Anambra State First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo, has urged residents to take precautions as flooding continues to affect parts of the state.
She advised residents to heed weather and flood warnings, avoid crossing flooded roads and waterways, and move to safer locations when necessary.
Soludo also urged parents and guardians to keep children away from floodwaters, drainage channels, streams and other dangerous areas during heavy rainfall.
She called on residents to avoid dumping refuse in drainage channels, warning that blocked waterways could worsen flooding and endanger lives and property.
The First Lady also encouraged communities to report emergencies promptly and look out for one another whenever floodwaters begin to rise.
