A heartbreaking tragedy has struck Awka, Anambra State, following reports that Success Ezenwafor, a pupil of UNIZIK Primary School who was reported missing after heavy flooding, has been found dead.
Despite social media rumours claiming the child was recovered alive in an erosion channel, official confirmation from local authorities reveals that search teams tragically recovered the young boy’s lifeless body following a 24-hour search operation.
Heroic act saved other pupils before floodwaters swept him away
The incident occurred on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, along the Nibo–Isiagu Road in Awka South Local Government Area when heavy rainfall inundated the area, trapping a school shuttle bus carrying several children and adults.
According to family members and eyewitness accounts, young Success demonstrated immense bravery during the crisis. He reportedly shattered one of the trapped bus’s windows, creating a critical escape route that allowed seven other schoolchildren and two adults to break free and be rescued by police operatives and local residents.
Tragically, while his heroic action saved others—including two of his siblings—Success was overwhelmed and swept away by the surging floodwaters.
Local government confirms recovery of body
Awka South Local Government Chairman, Prince Chinedu Okafor, confirmed the recovery of Success’s body on Wednesday, September 23.
“The body of the missing child, Success Ezenwafor, has been recovered,” Okafor stated. He added that the seven other rescued children remain in stable condition and are receiving medical treatment at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku.
Authorities and police search units have extended their deepest condolences to the Ezenwafor family as the community mourns the loss of the young boy.
See the video of the tragic moment the body was recovered on our Telegram Channel.
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