A 12-year-old boy, Nathan Spencer, tragically drowned on Saturday while on his way to take the Middle Basic Assessment Examination in Benin City, Edo State.
The incident occurred during heavy rainfall along the Uselu-Ugbowo road, which caused severe flooding across parts of the city.
Spencer, a pupil of Future Leaders Academy, was en route to Liberty Secondary School—his designated exam centre for the First School Leaving Certificate Examination—when he was swept away by floodwaters.
Eyewitnesses reported that the flooding had made sections of the road impassable, endangering pedestrians and commuters.
A widely shared video showed a man carrying Spencer’s lifeless body on his shoulders, with voices in the background urging him to take the boy to a nearby hospital. Onlookers were also heard blaming the child’s parents for allowing him to go alone.
The tragedy has reignited concerns about flood management and the safety of schoolchildren during the rainy season in Edo State.
In response, the state government announced the withdrawal of operating licences from two schools linked to the incident.
The Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, revealed this on Tuesday during a condolence visit to the bereaved family.
He added that the headteacher of one of the schools had been arrested.
Commissioner Iyamu said Governor Monday Okpebholo was deeply affected by the boy’s death and ordered an immediate visit to the family.
He vowed that those responsible would face consequences.
“The principal is currently in police custody,” he stated. “The state government will not allow such negligence to go unpunished.”
Iyamu also urged parents and guardians to closely supervise their children and be cautious of unregulated schools operating under false pretenses.