Ekpoma, Edo State September 18, 2025
In a heartbreaking incident underscoring the perils of heavy rainfall in Nigeria’s flood-prone regions, the body of Frank Omoruyi, a commercial motorcycle rider known locally as an “okada” operator, was recovered from a borrow pit in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Omoruyi was swept away by raging floodwaters while attempting to navigate a submerged road, leaving behind a community in mourning and renewed calls for improved drainage infrastructure.
The tragedy unfolded on Monday night, extending into Tuesday morning, amid a torrential downpour that transformed Uwenlenbo Road near the popular Zekor Hotel into a deadly torrent.
Eyewitness accounts, captured in a viral social media video circulating widely online, depict the harrowing moments when Omoruyi, ferrying a female passenger, encountered the deluge. As the motorcycle plunged into the fast-rising waters, Omoruyi struggled desperately to stay afloat, with voices in the footage urgently calling out for help.
Several passersby rushed to his aid, wading into the flood in a bid to pull him to safety, but the sheer force of the current proved overwhelming, carrying both rider and passenger away from view.
Search efforts commenced immediately but were hampered by the persistent rain and poor visibility. It was not until Wednesday evening, approximately 24 hours after the incident, that Omoruyi’s lifeless body was discovered at around 5 p.m. in a nearby borrow pit a common excavation site for construction materials that had become a grim repository for flood debris.
A local community source revealed that the body was found by a worker arriving for his shift at the pit, who raised the alarm and alerted authorities.
The fate of the female passenger remains unclear from available reports, with no immediate confirmation of her recovery or status. The incident has sparked widespread grief in Ekpoma, a bustling university town home to Ambrose Alli University, where commercial riders like Omoruyi are a vital part of the daily commute.
Residents have long decried the area’s inadequate drainage systems, which exacerbate flooding during the rainy season, turning routine trips into life-threatening ordeals.
Local authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the matter, but community leaders are urging urgent interventions, including the clearing of blocked waterways and the enforcement of travel advisories during storms. This event adds to a string of flood-related fatalities across Edo State this season, highlighting the urgent need for resilient urban planning in vulnerable communities.
For further visuals and updates, the viral video of the incident can be viewed on social media platforms, while ongoing investigations may yield more details in the coming days.
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