A 17-year-old girl, identified as Ayisat, drowned in a flood after Monday’s downpour at Alapafuja, Surulere, Lagos State.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), confirmed this report on Tuesday, 23rd of June.
According to Nosa Okunbor, the spokesperson of the agency, a search and rescue operation for the teenager is going on and they have not found her body yet.
“Upon arrival at the scene of (the) incident, it was discovered that the canal along Alapafuja close linking Bank Olemoh was submerged as a result of flooding and a teenage girl named Ayisat was swept away by the flood around 12:30 p.m (Monday), Okunbor said.
“The search and rescue operation by the agency which commenced immediately the distress alert was received, has led to the ongoing thorough search of all major and minor categories of drains and drainage canals in and around Alapafuja axis of the Surulere Low-Cost Housing Estate in Surulere Local Government Area, Lagos.
He said the outcome of their search will determine if they will extend their search beyond Surulere noting that past experience has shown that floods can take their victims far from the actual scene of the incident.
Moreover, Mr Okunbor said the LASEMA Response Team have searched through the connecting canals. However, the body of the missing teenager could not be found.
The agency went on to advise parents and guardians to make sure to keep an eye on their children and also restrain them from going out during heavy downpours.
