THREE weeks after she was swept away by flood, two-year-old Fortress Isiza, the only daughter of the Assistant Headmistress of Christi Angel Elementary Nursery School, Boji Boji -Owa in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, Mrs. Naomi Isiza, remains missing.
She was reported to have been swept away by floodwater resulting from the morning rainfall of Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Despite all efforts made by the family and rescue teams to find her, no trace of her has been found to date.
Our correspondent gathered that the victim’s mother, Mrs Noami Isiza, was riding her two children on a motorcycle through the flooded street on their way to school when she accidentally rode into an uncovered drainage at the junction of Deeper Life Street, off Lagos Asaba Road in Boji Boji Owa.
Little Fortress fell off the bike and was accidentally swept away by the floodwater.
It was revealed that immediately after the incident occurred, passers-by were said to have rushed to assist Mrs Isiza, where they managed to save her and her son, while Little Fortress could not be located due to the hazardous flow of the flood caused by the heavy downpour.
A visit to the incident scene also revealed that the uncovered drainage at that portion of the road has become a death trap for road users, particularly infants returning from school after heavy rainfall in the area.
Last year, the same portion of road also claimed the life of an eight-year-old boy, a Primary Four pupil of Orient Academy in Boji Boji Owa, who mistakenly fell into the uncovered drainage while coming from School after a heavy rainfall in the area.
In response to the incident, the Management of Orient Academy reportedly put measures in place to keep students within the school premises after heavy rainfall until the water recede.
Despite repeated appeals by residents, both the Delta State Government, the Member Representing Ika North East Constituency at the State House of Assembly, and the Ika North East Local Government Council, chaired by Hon. Monday Odigwe, the issue remains unaddressed.
Locals lament that the open drain age remains a death trap, especially during the rainy season.
