Flood: One child missing as police rescue nine others in drowning school bus

Police in Anambra have rescued seven schoolchildren and two adults from drowning as their school bus got stuck in a flood occasioned by high rainfall on Tuesday. One schoolchild was however declared after the incident.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, September 22, 2026, when the schoolchildren and adults were caught in the flood while travelling along Nibo–Isiagu Road in Awka, Anambra State.

The Anambra State Police Command spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga in a press release said its Safe School Operatives, working with concerned members of the community, swiftly mobilised to the scene after receiving information about the incident and rescued the nine victims to safety.

The release said after the rescue operation, one child involved in the incident remained unaccounted for, prompting the police to activate a sustained search and rescue operation in the area.

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Ikenga said operation is being conducted in collaboration with community members and relevant stakeholders to find the missing child.

He said: “The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, has directed that the search operation be sustained and expanded.

“He also appealed to 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 urge parents, guardians, school authorities and motorists to exercise extreme caution around flooded roads, bridges and waterways, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.

“Parents and guardians are advised to ensure that children do not attempt to cross flooded or otherwise dangerous routes.

“The command remains committed to protecting schoolchildren and would continue to strengthen collaboration with communities and relevant agencies under the Safe School Initiative to prevent avoidable loss of lives during emergencies.”

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