The tragic incident occurred on Taiwo Street in Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos, while the pupil was returning home from school with his colleagues.
Joshua’s mother, a fruit seller, reacted to the tragedy by weeping, pulling her hair, and lamenting the loss of her only child.
“Joshua died hungry and cold. He was in primary six; he was supposed to write his common entrance exam,” she lamented.
The mother, who was clearly distraught, revealed that she had lost her home in a fire and was living in a temporary shelter.
She implored the public to assist in finding her son, vowing to do whatever it takes to bring him home.
Meanwhile, Oloyede, a witness and youth leader in the area, mentioned seeing children in the rain and cautioning them about the dangers of the area.
“But unfortunately, the plank that was used to bridge the canal was completely covered by water, and they fell into the drainage.
“I managed to swim and rescue one of them, but unfortunately, Joshua was swept away by the heavy currents and died,” he stated.
A community leader, speaking anonymously, accused the government of neglecting the drainage channel project, which left the area vulnerable to flooding.
“In January, the government started a project to channel the drainage, but they abandoned it, leaving us with this unfinished project. Every time it rains, the area is filled with water,” he mentioned.
The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Nosa Okunbor, stated that he had not received any report on the incident when contacted.
Meanwhile, attempts to reach the Lagos police spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls.
