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A Senior Secondary pupil, Olileanya Obidiaso, age 17, at Oko, Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta state was reported to have drowned as a result of the ravaging flood in some parts of the state.
The incident occurred as some group of persons took advantage of the flooded area to collect money from canoe operators.
According to an eye witness, the victim drowned when the canoe conveying him capsized following alleged hot pursuit by youths suspected to be illegal tax collectors.
“It unfortunate that a young boy, who is preparing to write his West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination next year just died like that because people wanted to collect money. We are suffering and going through pain as a result of this flood and some persons are using it to collect money.
“You know that the areas have been flooded; we are only using canoes to move around. Some people are extorting the canoe operators. So, it was in that process that this young boy drowned, while trying to escape from them.
“The boy got drowned when the boat capsized because they were being chased by youths, who usually intercept and extort money from canoe operators, who ferry people from the Asaba end of the River Niger Bridge to the communities in Oko.”
The eye witness warned that if not checked, the trend could escalate and cause more problems.
The Police Public Relations Officer in state, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the death of the teenager.
She said, “The bereaved father of the victim reported at the ‘B’ Division that his son fell into the water while being pursued by illegal tax collectors.
