The Anambra State Police Command has issued a flood alert to residents, advising parents, guardians and caregivers to exercise heightened vigilance and take necessary precautions to protect schoolchildren following persistent rainfall and flooding in parts of the state.

In a statement on Wednesday, the command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the alert followed recent heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the state, which tragically resulted in the death of a school pupil.

Recall that a pupil of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Primary School, Success Ezenwafor, was swept away by floodwaters in Isiagu, Awka South Local Government Area of the state.

Success was on his way to school last Tuesday when the school bus conveying him and other occupants was trapped and overturned by floodwaters.

Nine other occupants of the vehicle—seven schoolchildren and two adults—were rescued alive by operatives of the Anambra State Police Command, in collaboration with concerned residents, and taken to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka.

Success, however, was swept away by the flood and remained missing until his remains were recovered the following morning.