By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command, through its Safe School Operatives and in collaboration with concerned members of the community, has rescued nine persons following a flood incident along the Nibo–Isiagu Road in Awka, the state capital, with one school child still missing.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, saying the incident occurred in the early hours of the day when some school children and adults were caught up in the flood while travelling along the affected route.
According to him, the Safe School Operatives, upon receiving information about the incident, swiftly mobilised to the area and, working with community members, rescued seven school children and two adults and moved them to safety.
Ikenga, however, said one other child involved in the incident was still unaccounted for as of the time of the statement, adding that the Command had activated sustained search and rescue operations in the affected area.
He said the search operation was being conducted in collaboration with community members and relevant stakeholders and would continue until the missing child was located and accounted for.
The Police spokesman said the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, PSC, MNIPS, had directed that the search and rescue operation be sustained and expanded.
He added that the CP urged residents, particularly those living or operating around the affected route, to provide the Police and other responding agencies with any information that could assist in locating the missing child.
The Command also urged parents, guardians, school authorities and motorists to exercise extreme caution around flooded roads, bridges and waterways, especially during periods of heavy rainfall.
It further advised parents and guardians to ensure that children do not attempt to cross flooded or otherwise dangerous routes, stressing that the Police remained committed to the protection and safety of school children.
According to Ikenga, the Command would continue to strengthen its collaboration with communities and relevant agencies under the Safe School Initiative to prevent avoidable loss of lives during emergencies.
