Flood at Igbogene community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has swept away a 16-year-old boy, Temedi Yerimene.
The boy was reportedly swept off by surging waters into a deep canal in the community.
The Nation learnt that the body of the deceased is still missing, two days after the incident.
It was gathered that Yerimene, who was with his friends, went swimming in the rising waters near the State Ecumenical Centre at Igbogene, but was overpowered by the surging water and thrown into the canal.
It was learnt that efforts by the community’s search team to locate him, dead or alive, proved futile as half of the community had been submerged by floodwaters.The mother of the deceased, identified simply as Madam Carol, said they are indigenes of Amabulu in Ojobo community of Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.
She said the tragedy occurred around 11 a.m on Saturday while she was away to the market to buy food items and ingredients to prepare their lunch.
Madam Carol said: “When I came back from the market, I was told my son had gone swimming with his friends. I thought he was swimming in the rising water level in the compound. Later, one of his friends told me my son had been dragged by the flood into the canal.”
Another resident of community, identified as Destiny, said the community leadership had warned parents to prevail on their kids to avoid swimming in the flood to avoid mishaps.
Investigation showed that more communities in the state have been taken over by floods.
The disaster has wreaked havoc at the secretariat of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.
