A Primary 6 pupil simply identified as Joshua has been swept away by flood in Lagos.
Joshua was returning home from school alongside his colleagues when the tragic incident occurred on Taiwo Street in Ikosi, Ketu.
Reacting to the tragedy, Joshua’s mother – a fruit seller – wept, pulling her hair and lamenting the loss of her only child.
“Joshua died hungry and cold. He was in primary six; he was supposed to write his common entrance exam,” she lamented.
The mother, who was clearly distraught, revealed that she had lost her home to a fire incident, and was living in a temporary shelter.
She pleaded with the public to help her find her son, promising to do anything to get him back alive.
Oloyede, who is a youth leader in the area, said he saw children in the rain and warned them to be careful because the area was flooded and dangerous.
“But unfortunately, the plank that was used to bridge the canal was completely covered by water, and they fell into the drainage.
“I managed to swim and rescue one of them, but unfortunately, Joshua was swept away by the heavy currents and died.”
A community leader, who spoke off the record, blamed the government for abandoning a project to channel the drainage, leaving the area prone to flooding.
“In January, the government started a project to channel the drainage, but they abandoned it, leaving us with this unfinished project. Every time it rains, the area is filled with water,” he said.
