Two children a 7-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy lost their lives after being swept away by floodwaters during heavy rain that lasted from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Minna, Niger State, capital, BusinessToday NG reports.
It was gathered that the seven-year-old girl, who is the only female among three children in her family, along with her elder brother, 11 years old, were sent on an errand by their mother to their aunt.
It was also gathered that in an attempt to cross the Julius Berger drainage on a wooden plank, she was overturned into the floodwaters.
According to eyewitnesses, immediately after the heavy floodwater swept the younger sister away, the elder brother raised an alarm, attracting the attention of residents.
The sources added that a search team comprising local residents sprang into action to locate the girl, who had already been carried away by the floodwaters.
The body of the girl, alongside the 11-year-old boy, was discovered later by the search team at the back of T Mama in the Sauka Kahuta area of Minna.
It was also gathered that initially, residents of the community had thought that the flood carried away only the girl, whose parents hail from Edo and Delta States, but were shocked to discover two bodies.
“We could not get hold of her due to the force of the large volume of the water. However, the local search team continued the search and later recovered her body at 6:30 p.m. around Mama T area of Sauka Kahuta, Minna. We were surprised to also discover the body of an 11-year-old boy washed away by the strong force of the water.”
“The father of the girl was then contacted to come and identify his daughter.” Mallam Musa said
Also, during the rain, all the drainages and roads in the Tunga area were flooded, thereby forcing motorists to park and wait for the rains to subside and the floods to recede.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), through its Public Relations Officer Hussaine Ibrahim, expressed shock over the tragic incident, assuring that the agency would visit the family of the deceased for more details
Source: Daily Post
