A 4-year-old girl has been swept away by the flood in Orile Agege area of Lagos, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said.
The agency said Azizat was carried away by the flood from Fashola Street, Papa Ashafa in Orile Agege.
NEMA in a statement on Thursday enjoined Lagos residents to look out for the girl’s body.
According to the agency, the flood from Fashola Street runs through Aboru, Iyana Ipaja, Command in Lagos State, then to Ota in Ogun State and ends up at the canal in Agbara where it will be discharged into the sea.
“NEMA and LASEMA (Lagos State Emergency Management Agency) have put resources together in recovery operations as soon as distressed alert was received but the body has not been recovered,” the statement read.
“This necessitated the call on the people in these areas with credible information on the recovery of the body to call the attention of emergency/security Agency in their area if they notice the body.”
Azizat is said to have missed her step into a drainage that was covered with flood when she attempted to relocate to higher ground with other residents after their house was overtaken by flood.
In another development, four buildings partially collapsed at Ashade Quarters behind Guinness.
The agency said two women were rescued, including a pregnant woman who slumped but was revived immediately.
NEMA said it advised 18 families at 18 Railway Line, Ashade Quarter, Agege to evacuate for the safety of their lives as the downpour has weakened the building housing them.
On this note, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk, has appealed to parents and guardians to take special attention on their children and wards against playing in the rain or running water in the period.
She further appealed to Nigerians to relocate to upper ground as soon as they notice that drainages and canals are overflowing.
The minister also enjoined parents that in the process of relocating to higher ground, the children and women must be protected and safeguarded in emergency situation.
