14-year-old schoolboy dies, others injured as flood wreaks havoc in Ogun communities

A flash flood caused by heavy rainfall has resulted in the death of a 14-year-old boy, Goodluck Abiola, and left an unknown number of people injured in Sagamu town of Ogun State.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, affecting multiple communities including Ajaka, Express Junction, Ogunyanwo, Olayinka, Isale-Ojumele, and Makun areas.

Reportedly, the victim, who was identified as a student of Agbele Community High School by his uniform, drowned after falling off a bike in the flood. The flooding caused damage to properties worth millions of naira and injured several residents.

The community has expressed concerns about the small drainage system in the area, which cannot cope with the large volume of water during heavy rains. They have lamented the loss of valuable goods and properties, including motorcycles that were swept away by the torrent. Some people who were swept away by the flood also sustained injuries.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, who visited the affected areas on Wednesday, confirmed the incident and called for the redesign of the state drainage system. He has also appealed to the Federal Government for assistance in addressing the issue. Residents have urged the government to take urgent action to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“The government would begin implementation of some of the short, medium, and long-term solutions which include dredging of canals and desilting of blocked drainage. We call on the Federal Government for assistance to ameliorate the perennial challenges.” he added.