14-year-old Schoolboy Dies, Others Injured As Flood Wreaks Havoc In Ogun Communities

A 14-year-old boy, Goodluck Abiola, has been confirmed dead while others sustained varying injuries following the flash flood that hit Sagamu town in Ogun State after a heavy downpour.

It was gathered that the flooding which occurred on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, affected communities such as Ajaka, Express Junction, Ogunyanwo, Olayinka, Isale-Ojumele and Makun area of Sagamu.

The victim who was said to be a student of Agbele Community High School because of the uniform he reportedly had on, drowned in the flood after he fell off a bike.

It was further gathered that properties running to millions of naira were lost to the incident while some residents sustained injuries.

Residents of the area lamented that valuable goods and properties were always lost anytime it rained due to the small drainage system in the area.

They said the community couldn’t withstand the impact of the erosion which is usually enormous. They also said some motorcycles were swept away by the torrent, while many valuable goods and properties were also lost in the process.

Some people who were swept away by the flooding were said to have sustained different degrees of injuries.

A resident of the area, Banjo Adeoye, told newsmen, “We had something like this last year and it was more terrible, we cried out to the government ''

The state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, on Wednesday, confirmed the incident when he paid a visit to the affected areas.

Oresanya said that the redesign of the state drainage, has become imperative.

He however called on the Federal Government for assistance.

“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.