A 12-year-old boy, Nathan Spencer, has lost his life after being swept away by floodwaters while on his way to write the Middle Basic Assessment Examination in Benin.
The incident occurred on Saturday along the Uselu-Ugbowo road during a downpour that left several parts of the city inundated
Spencer, a pupil of Future Leaders Academy in Benin, was reportedly heading to Liberty Secondary School in Uselu, Benin his designated examination centre for the First School Leaving Certificate Examination.
Eyewitnesses said the floodwaters had submerged parts of the road, creating hazardous conditions for commuters and pedestrians.
A viral video circulating online after the flooding showed a man carrying the lifeless body of the pupil on his shoulders, with bystanders urging him to rush the boy to the nearest hospital.
Several onlookers could also be heard criticising the boy’s parents for allowing him to make the trip to the examination centre unaccompanied.
This incident has sparked renewed concerns about the state’s flood preparedness and the safety of schoolchildren, especially during the rainy season.
