21 hours after, LASEMA yet to recover two missing children

Etim Ekpimah

Two children that were swept away by flood at Oyebanjo Solarin Street in the Ketu area of Lagos State following Saturday’s evening downpour have yet to be recovered.

It was learnt that the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency’s response team led by the Director of Operations, Olatunde Akinsanya, engaged his men in a more stringent extended search of about 500 meters radius along the canal way, but are not able to find the two children.

Akinsanya said: “Aside the extended radius, and deep inquiries around the neighborhood about the missing children, the agency is conducting Public Enlightenment on Flooding and its dangerous repercussions to the residents and their properties.

“In addition, LASEMA also commenced sensitisation in the entire area, on the need to desist from, and resist the urge to dispose their domestic and bodily wastes into the drainage systems, as it leads to blockage of the canal and water flow, which cause environmental degradation, flooding and eventually lead to disasters, such as death or missing persons and collapsed buildings.”

According to him, part of the enlightenment campaign also advised that, “in case of flood or any other emergency, call the Lagos State Emergency Toll free lines on 767 or 112.”

The Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said as soon as the agency received distress calls concerning the incident, it dispatched it personnel to the scene around 8pm and discovered that two children were caught in the flood.

“A joint team of responders comprising agency responders, LASG Fire Service and LASAMBUS were at the scene. The agency’s tiger team commenced a search and rescue operation along the path of the flood water.

“Initial observations revealed a sloping topography with a direct channel of drain water into the canal. This has proven to be rather challenging to navigate,” he said.

He urged members of the public to exercise extreme caution, particularly with young children, in flood prone and low-lying areas.

Head, Public Affairs of the agency, Nosa Okunbor, said the operation is continuous one until the children are found.