A schoolchild is still missing after flooding swept across a section of the Nibo–Isiagu Road in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, as the police have commenced a search for the child.
Nine people, including seven schoolchildren and two adults, were rescued from the flooded road following heavy rainfall recorded in parts of the state between Monday and Tuesday.
The incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday when the victims, who were travelling along the road, became trapped by the rising floodwater.
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the rescue operation was conducted by the command’s Safe School Operatives alongside members of the affected community.
According to him, the operatives quickly moved to the scene after receiving information about the incident and successfully evacuated seven schoolchildren and two adults to safety.
However, Ikenga said another child involved in the incident was still missing as of Tuesday, leading the command to commence sustained search and rescue efforts.
He said the search operation was being carried out jointly with community members and other relevant stakeholders and would continue until the missing child was located.
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.
“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, ordered that the search operation be sustained and widened until the missing child was found.
Ama also appealed to residents, especially those living or carrying out activities around the affected road, to provide the police and other responding agencies with useful information that could aid the search.
The CP advised parents, guardians, school authorities and motorists to remain extremely cautious around flooded roads, bridges and waterways during periods of heavy rainfall.
He specifically urged parents and guardians to ensure that children did not attempt to cross flooded roads or other potentially dangerous routes.
The command said it would continue to deepen cooperation with communities and relevant agencies under the Safe School Initiative to reduce preventable loss of lives during emergency situations.
