Success Ezenwafor, a pupil of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Primary School in Awka, Anambra, has been killed by floodwaters in the city.
Uche Nworah, former managing director of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), in a Facebook post on Wednesday, said the body of Ezenwafor was recovered on Tuesday during a search operation after the downpour.
The boy was among some schoolchildren travelling in a shuttle bus which was overtaken by floodwaters along the Awka–Nibo–Nise–Enugwu-Ukwu Ring Road in Awka south LGA.
Nworah said Chinedu Okafor, mayor of the LGA, who led the rescue efforts, confirmed the recovery of the boy’s body.
“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. I am at Amaku Teaching Hospital at the moment,” Okafor was quoted as saying.
Nworah said Ezenwafor’s parents declared him missing on Tuesday shortly after the downpour in the area.
He said two other children from the Ezenwafor family were also involved in the incident but were rescued.
According to Nworah, a family member said Ezenwafor had helped create an escape route for some of the children before he was swept away.
“The family member described Success as a brave boy,” he said.
“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.”
Nworah added that Ezenwafor’s father vividly recalled the final moments with his son before he left for school on Tuesday.
According to him, the boy kissed his father on both cheeks, said goodbye and boarded the shuttle bus for school.
“Tragically, he never returned home,” Nworah said.
