Tragedy Strikes As 16-Year-Old Barber Apprentice Swept Away By Flood In Ijebu-Ode

A tragic incident unfolded on Friday evening in Ijebu-Ode as a 16-year-old barber apprentice, identified as Dimeji, was swept away by floodwaters following a torrential rainfall around St. Anthony Nursery and Primary School, Igbeba.

According to reports gathered from eyewitnesses, Dimeji inadvertently stepped into a gully erosion covered with floodwater, mistaking it for a plank used by pedestrians to cross to the other side.

The heart-wrenching incident was captured in a viral video circulated on Saturday, depicting the retrieval of the young boy's lifeless body from the gully.

In a condolence message accompanying the video, it was clarified that Dimeji was not a student but an apprentice barber on Awokoya Street in Ijebu-Ode. The message expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the young life, extending sympathies to his family, particularly his mother who sells "fufu" at the same location.

Confirming the incident, a source who spoke on condition of anonymity recounted the tragic sequence of events: "Yes, what you saw in the video is true. Dimeji slipped into the canal. He had escorted his friend to board a motorcycle, and while his friend rode away, he mistakenly stepped into the water, thinking it was a plank."

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, for comment on the incident were unsuccessful as calls to her phone went unanswered, and messages sent via WhatsApp were yet to receive a response as of the time of this report.

The community remains in mourning over the loss of Dimeji, emphasizing the need for enhanced safety measures during the rainy season to prevent such tragic occurrences.