Pupil feared drowned in Lagos drainage, sibling hospitalised

A nine-year-old Primary three pupil, Gbenga
Oladejo, and his sister, Tolani, were swept inside
a drainage channel on Tuesday on Agege Motor
Road, Mushin, Lagos.
While Gbenga drowned and his body had yet to be
recovered, 10-year-old Tolani held to an iron
inside the channel and was rescued by residents.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the victims were pupils
of Myyoung Barracks Primary School in the
Fadeyi, Yaba area of Lagos and were heading for
school when the incident happened.
An eyewitness, Bayo Olowa, said the incident
happened around 9am.
He said, “When the rain started, we were all
seated here. It had gone down a little when we
saw a kid slip into the drainage channel. His
sister wanted to save him, but fell headlong into
it as well.
“We quickly ran to the other end of the drainage
channel and tried pulling the legs of one of them,
but the water was too forceful.
“We however saw the elder sister holding on to an
iron inside the drainage. One of us pulled her
out.”
Our correspondent was taken to a private hospital
in the area where Tolani was receiving treatment.
A doctor in the hospital, who did not identify
herself, told our correspondent that she was in
stable condition and was asleep.
When our correspondent approached her bed, she
slightly opened her eyes.
Asked what she could remember last before she
was taken to the hospital, Tolani said, “I and my
brother were going to school this morning when
we fell into the drainage channel. I don’t know
where Gbenga is. I feel pains in different parts of
my head now.”
PUNCH Metro visited the mother of the victim in
her house on Akobi Crescent, in front of Birch
Freeman School in Surulere.
Bose, a hairdresser and Ibadan, Oyo State
indigene, said she was devastated by the loss of
her child.
While fighting back tears, she said, “It was
around 8.45am, after the rain had subsided, that I
told them to go to school.
“Ten minutes later, I decided to also go out. I
saw a crowd of people saying two kids fell into
the drainage. I didn’t care much and passed by
them.
“It was later that I learnt that the victims were
my children.”
The Social Secretary of Kubada Community
Development Association, Odi Olowo Council,
Adeshina Adigun said, “The flood water that
forms on this road can be heavy most times and
the channel is too small. Rain waters from the
Railway Line, Kubiyi and Bada areas flow to this
junction and flood the streets.
“Two years ago, I was involved in a weeklong
search for a man’s son that was carried away by
flood water. Up till now, we have not seen the
boy’s corpse and that is why I doubt if we can
ever see this one too.”
A resident, Jamiu Keru, suggested that an iron
wall be constructed around the drainage channel
so that in the event of another mishap, it would
be easier for victims to be rescued.
Our correspondent called the Lagos State Police
Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, but she was
not reachable.
credits: Samson Folarin