Flooding in Edo State Claims Life of 50-Year-Old Man

A tragic incident occurred in Edo State when a 50-year-old man was swept away by floodwaters while trying to cross a wooden bridge on Monday night. The man, a father of seven, was returning home on a motorcycle when the bridge, commonly used by residents, collapsed due to severe erosion.

The community made frantic efforts to rescue him, but these were unsuccessful. His body was reportedly recovered around 2:00 AM following a sustained search.

Local youth leader Augustin Ewonwa expressed the community's concerns, blaming the tragedy on the negligence of a construction company handling the rehabilitation of the Benin-Auchi road. Ewonwa highlighted that improper drainage channels along the highway have exacerbated flooding issues, splitting the community and creating dangerous conditions for residents, especially school children.

He appealed for urgent intervention from the Edo State government and relevant authorities. Jerri Idahosa, the executive secretary of EDOSEMA, confirmed that the incident had not been reported to the agency.