Mother of Abia teenager swept away by flood begs for help as search continues

The mother of 13-year-old Emmanuella Ige, who was reportedly swept away by flood in Umuahia on Monday evening, has urgently sought assistance from government bodies and local residents. Emmanuella had reportedly been sent on an errand by a relative of her mother, and later fell into a large gutter located at the Low Cost Housing Estate.

Speaking to ABN TV, Mrs. Chinasa Ige, Emmanuella's mother, recounted that the teenager had been residing with her sister in Umuahia prior to the incident. Upon learning of her daughter's disappearance following heavy rainfall, Mrs. Ige had sought refuge in the Ohafia area of Abia State. She further revealed that the police have initiated an investigation into the matter and that her family is fully cooperating with law enforcement in the hope of reuniting with their missing daughter.

Mrs. Ige mentioned that her sister had sent Emmanuella out with an umbrella for fear of rain, which had arrived unexpectedly despite a few clouds in the sky. When questioned about the shopkeeper's account of the overwhelming flood, Mrs. Ige expressed worry that her young daughter might not have known how to find a secure place to stand as she exited the shop.

At the time of the report, Emmanuella had not been found and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance were still unknown.