A 17-year-old girl, simply identified as Ayisat
A 17-year-old girl, simply identified as Ayisat was on Monday, reportedly swept away by strong flood at Alapafuja axis of the Surulere Low-Cost Housing Estate area of Lagos State following persistent rainfall.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), on Tuesday, said a 17-year-old girl, identified as Ayisat, drowned in a flood after Monday's downpour at Alapafuja Close, Surulere

Nosa Okunbor, the spokesperson of the agency, said a search and rescue operation for the teenager is ongoing and her body is yet to be found.

"Upon arrival at the scene of incident, it was discovered that the canal along Alapafuja close linking Bank Olemoh was submerged as a result of flooding and a teenage girl named Ayisat was swept away by the flood around 12:30p.m (Monday).



"The search and rescue operation by the agency which commenced immediately the distress alert was received, has led to the ongoing thorough search of all major and minor categories of drains and drainage canals in and around Alapafuja axis of the Surulere Low-Cost Housing Estate in Surulere Local Government Area, Lagos, " Mr Okunbor said.

He said the outcome of the operation will determine the extent to which the radius of the search and rescue operation will be extended beyond the immediate locality of Surulere, as past experience has shown that strong floods can transfer victims far from incident scenes.

Mr Okunbor said the body of the missing teenager could not been found even when the LASEMA Response Team searched through the adjoining canals. He said the operation will be suspended till morning.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how a four-year-old Azeezat was also swept away by flood on Thursday at Orile-Agege area of the metropolis. Her body has not been found till date.

LASEMA enjoined all parents and guardians to ensure adequate safety of their children, wards and young adults by insisting, and restraining them indoors during rainfalls and away from after rain floodings which have been known to sweep away articulated vehicles and even demolish buildings where the flood strength and speeds are strong enough.

A large part of Lagos has been flooded in recent days amidst heavy rainfall and poor drainage channels. Officials have also accused residents of indiscriminately dumping refuse to block the existing drainage channels.