By Our Reporter, Wednesday, Sept 23, 2026
AWKA, Anambra—What could have turned into an unspeakable tragedy in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, ended in relief and tears of joy following the miraculous survival of a young boy, simply identified as Success, who was swept away by flash floods after a heavy downpour on Tuesday.
Success was aboard a moving school bus returning home when torrential rains caused raging floodwaters to submerge the vehicle. The violent currents dragged the young boy out of the bus, leaving terrified classmates and onlookers helpless as he disappeared into the floodwaters.
A frantic search and rescue effort mounted by local residents in the aftermath of the downpour yielded what many across the state capital are calling a divine intervention. The child was discovered alive, trapped under a heavy pile of debris brought down by the flood.
”To the glory of God Almighty, little Success who went missing after the torrential rains swept him off his moving school bus has been found alive under a huge debris,” an eyewitness who participated in the search operation told Vanguard. “It can only be God! It’s another miracle!!”
While the child’s survival has sparked spontaneous celebration, the incident has reignited intense public outrage over the dilapidated state of roads and drainage infrastructure in Awka under the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Residents and commuter operators who spoke to Vanguard expressed bitterness that Awka, despite its status as a state capital, continues to suffer severe infrastructural decay. Many roads lack proper drainage channels, turning minor rainstorms into lethal surges of flash water that erode asphalt, trap vehicles, and put lives at constant risk.
Community leaders are now demanding immediate emergency intervention from the Anambra State Government.
”We cannot rely on miracles every time it rains in Awka,” said a concerned parent at the scene. “Professor Soludo promised us a smart megacity, but our children cannot even commute safely to school without facing life-threatening floods caused by neglected roads and blocked drainage channels.”
As of press time, little Success is receiving medical attention following the ordeal, while calls grow louder for Governor Soludo’s administration to declare a state of emergency on Awka’s failing road infrastructure before a preventable fatality occurs.
