As torrential rains continue to wreak havoc across Edo State, another heartbreaking tragedy has emerged — a 12-year-old boy, Nathan Paul Spencer, was swept away and killed by a raging flood in Benin City while on his way to sit for a crucial examination.

The incident occurred on the morning of Saturday, July 5, 2025, along the ever-busy Uselu-Ugbowo Road, a known flood-prone corridor in the state capital. Nathan was headed to Liberty Secondary School in Uselu, Egor Local Government Area, to take the Middle Basic Assessment Examinations, popularly referred to as the First School Leaving Certificate exam — a milestone in the academic journey of Nigerian schoolchildren.

Nathan, a pupil of Future Leaders Academy in Ovia North-East LGA, had been registered for the examination at Liberty Secondary School by the management of his school. He left home that morning determined to reach the exam centre, unaware of the lurking danger that the persistent downpour had created.

A distressing video that has since gone viral captured the moment a young man carried Nathan’s lifeless body on his shoulder, desperately seeking help as concerned onlookers shouted for him to rush the boy to the nearest hospital. But it was too late. The rising waters had already claimed another innocent life.

Heartbroken residents who witnessed the scene decried the recurring loss of children to flood disasters, placing part of the blame on parents who allow children to travel alone during extreme weather conditions. Others called on the state government to urgently address drainage failures, open gutters, and the lack of adequate flood control infrastructure

Sadly, Nathan’s tragic death is not an isolated case. It mirrors a series of similar incidents that have claimed the lives of young pupils in Edo State over the years — all pointing to the deadly consequences of poor urban planning and environmental neglect.

In July 2018, six-year-old Segun died after falling into an open drainage at Omosogie Junction on Benin-Uselu Road during a heavy downpour. He had been walking home from school with his mother when both slipped and fell into the flooded gutter. The young boy was scheduled to graduate to Primary One the following week.

Another similar tragedy occurred around the same time at Okhoro Junction along New Lagos Road, where a three-year-old girl was swept away by floodwaters. In July 2019, 13-year-old Egbadon Overcome, a Primary 3 pupil of Idumu Ague Primary School in Uromi, also died after being carried away by flood on her way to school.

These recurring tragedies have turned what should be a season of academic promise for many families into one of mourning and sorrow. Nathan Paul Spencer’s death is a reminder that urgent intervention is needed — not just in drainage development, but also in public awareness, child safety measures, and emergency response protocols.

Stakeholders are calling on the Edo State Government, local councils, and federal agencies to take concrete steps to prevent further loss of young lives to environmental negligence. There are also growing calls for schools and examination boards to reschedule examinations or provide transportation during adverse weather conditions.

Nathan’s life, full of promise, was cut short on a journey to secure his future. As his family mourns, and as a community once again grapples with the avoidable loss of a child, the question remains: how many more must die before meaningful change is made?

Let Nathan’s story be the final wake-up call.