The mother of 13-year-old Adekunle Emanuella Ige has appealed to government agencies and residents of Umuahia, Abia State, to help locate her daughter, who allegedly went missing after being swept away by floodwater on Monday evening.

Emanuella reportedly disappeared after a maternal relative sent her on an errand during heavy rainfall. She was said to have fallen into a large drainage channel at the Low Cost Housing Estate in Umuahia.

Speaking on ABN TV, the girl’s mother, Mrs Adekunle Chinasa Ige, said Emanuella had been staying with her younger sister in Umuahia before the incident.

Ige said she was in Ohafia when she was informed that her daughter was missing following the rainfall. She added that the police had begun investigating the incident, with the family cooperating with the authorities.

According to the mother, her younger sister sent Emanuella to buy some items before the rain intensified. She was given an umbrella in case the weather changed.

“She became concerned when Emmanuella failed to return home after several hours, prompting a search for her,” Ige said.

The shopkeeper where Emanuella was sent reportedly told the family that the rainfall and flooding were severe, with water covering the drainage channel in front of the shop and making it difficult to distinguish the gutter from the walkway.

Ige expressed concern that her daughter may have been unable to identify a safe path while leaving the shop.

“I’m appealing, please, if there is anything people can do, please help us,” she said.

As of the time of filing, Emanuella had not been found, while the circumstances surrounding her disappearance remained under investigation.