By Awyetu Asabe Hope
One schoolchild has been declared missing while seven other children and two adults were rescued after being trapped by floodwater along Nibo–Isiagu Road in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State in the early hours of Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the rescue on Tuesday, saying the incident occurred following persistent rainfall that started on Monday night and continued into Tuesday morning.
Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the victims were travelling along the affected route when they were caught by the rising flood.
“Upon receiving information about the incident, the Safe School Operatives swiftly mobilised to the area and, working with members of the community, rescued seven schoolchildren and two adults, and moved them to safety,” Ikenga said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Command said one child is still unaccounted for and has activated sustained search and rescue operations in the area with community support.
The incident comes amid a nationwide high flood alert issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA). Anambra is among 15 states listed as high-risk for riverine flooding between September 19 and 25.
NiHSA has identified over 8,000 communities and 4,500 schools as being within exposure areas during the current warning period. The agency advised residents in floodplain communities to monitor river levels and move to safer ground.
Anambra is one of the most flood-prone states in the Southeast, with the Niger River and its tributaries regularly overflowing during peak rainy season. Environmental experts have linked increasing flood incidents to climate change, poor drainage and encroachment on natural water channels.
The Police Command urged residents to avoid flooded routes and report emergencies promptly as the second phase of the rainy season intensifies.
