Many parents and guardians in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, and the surrounding areas were deterred from sending their children and wards to school on Tuesday out of fear of another catastrophe.
This comes after an intense downpour that started at four in the morning and lasted for several hours.
The arrest occurred precisely one week after a six-year-old student from Success Ezenwafor’s Nnamdi Azikiwe University Primary School was carried away by floodwaters while riding a bus to school.
When the bus was submerged in floodwaters, Success and about eight other people were inside.
As more intense rain fell on Awka and the surrounding areas on Tuesday, several parents, reportedly still devastated by the catastrophe, made the decision not to take any chances.
Journalist and public affairs analyst Mr. Jude Atupulazi also issued a warning in response to the situation, urging parents to prioritise their children’s safety over their attendance at school.
“This boy was trapped in a flood with two of his siblings and others in a bus before finally being swept away,” Atupulazi recounted, recalling the tragedy of the previous Tuesday. It’s been pouring on yet another Tuesday.
“Parents, carefully monitor your surroundings and your children’s commute to school. “Let them stay at home if it’s not safe,” he said.
According to a parent who spoke with our journalist, Success’s passing was still too recent to overlook.
The parent stated, “After what happened last week, nobody should blame a parent for keeping a child at home when there is this kind of rain.”
“The child can make up for missing one day of school, but you cannot replace a child who is lost to flooding,” remarked a different parent.