Police in Anambra State have rescued seven schoolchildren and two adults who were trapped by flooding along the Nibo-Isiagu Road in Awka, the state capital.
One of the children remains missing, according to the Anambra State Police Command.
The police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, a Superintendent of Police, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
The incident attracted public attention earlier in the day after photographs and videos showing a commercial minibus reportedly stranded in the flood circulated on Facebook. Residents and other social media users called on authorities to intervene after reports that schoolchildren were among those trapped.
Ikenga said the police Safe School Operatives responded after receiving information about the incident.
“Upon receiving information about the incident, the Safe School Operatives swiftly mobilised to the area and, working with members of the community, rescued seven school children and two adults and moved them to safety,” he said.
He said the rescue operation was carried out with the assistance of residents in the area.
Search Underway for Missing Child
Despite the rescue of nine people, one schoolchild was still unaccounted for.
The police spokesperson said the command had launched a sustained search and rescue operation to locate the missing child.
“The search operation is being conducted in collaboration with community members and relevant stakeholders and will continue until the remaining persons are located and accounted for,” Ikenga said.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Nnanna Ama, directed that the search operation be sustained and expanded.
Ama also appealed to residents, particularly those living or operating around the affected route, to provide the police and other emergency responders with information that could help locate the missing child.
The commissioner urged parents, guardians, school authorities and motorists to exercise caution around flooded roads, bridges and waterways during periods of heavy rainfall.
He also advised parents and guardians to prevent children from attempting to cross flooded or otherwise dangerous routes.
The police command said it would continue working with communities and relevant agencies through the Safe School Initiative to improve the safety of schoolchildren during emergencies.
