Anambra flood: Pupil missing as police rescue nine

A bus carrying the schoolchildren trapped in the Anambra flood on Tuesday. Photo: Ikenna Obianeri

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

“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.”

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

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.

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

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

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.