The sad death of 4-year-old Daniel Oyedokun, who drowned in a canal on his way back from church on Sunday at Awori Street, Dopemu, Agege, in Lagos State, has thrown his family into mourning.
News About Nigeria gathered that his body had been found in a gutter in the street, having been swept away by the flood that accompanied the heavy rain on that day.
The father of the deceased, Olabode Oyedokun, while recounting the sad event, blamed the church for the death of his son.
He noted how he was unable to accompany Daniel to church because he was ill, so his son had gone to church in the company of a group of children, including his neighbour.
He said Daniel had slipped and fallen into the water while crossing the canal and did not make it, unfortunately.
He explained how his neighbour’s sister, who took them to church, was crossing the children one after the other. When they got to the canal on their way back, she had asked Daniel to stand at the edge of the canal while she crossed the others, but he accidentally stepped on the water and slipped into the canal.
Olabode, who is popularly called Baba Ibeji, said when he got to the house and found people standing and weeping, he inquired to know what the problem was. When he was told that his son had drowned in the canal, he rushed there only to find out that it was true.
The Ekiti State indigene, however, blamed the church for allowing the children to leave the premises in such hazardous weather conditions. He emphasized the need for better safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident and expressed his condolences to the family.
He also urged parents to be vigilant, especially those living near canals.
