A 10-year-old boy tragically drowned on Thursday evening after being swept away by floodwaters while trying to dispose of refuse into a drainage channel in Aba, Abia State.
The incident happened along Omuma Road, Over Rail area of Aba, during heavy rainfall. The boy, whose name is yet to be disclosed, was reportedly sent by his mother to throw out refuse into the running floodwater. Eyewitnesses said he tried to wade through the fast-flowing water but was swept away.
Residents and passersby later found the boy’s body in a drainage near Cemetery Road. While neither the police nor the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has yet commented on the incident, authorities have repeatedly warned residents against dumping refuse into drains during the rainy season.
The sanitation agency has taken steps to curb illegal waste disposal by setting up task forces and mobile courts to arrest and punish offenders. However, the practice of throwing refuse into drainage channels continues, increasing the risk of flooding and accidents like this tragic death.
This incident highlights the urgent need for greater public awareness and stricter enforcement to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
