- Despite warnings, Salim entered a flooded culvert and was swept into a deep valley.
- The incident happened in the Awara B area after heavy rainfall.
- He worked as a shop assistant and was heading home when the tragedy occurred.
An 18-year-old boy, Salim Aminu, drowned on Sunday night while trying to retrieve his friend’s shoe swept away by floodwaters in Gombe State.
The incident happened in the Awara B area after heavy rainfall. Despite warnings, Salim entered a flooded culvert and was swept into a deep valley. He worked as a shop assistant and was heading home when the tragedy occurred.
“He kept following the shoe despite people asking him to stop. Even the friend whose shoe got lost called him to come back,” the victim’s father, Aminu Muhammad, told WikkiTimes.
“The waves became too strong for him to maneuver. At one point, he held onto a solar pole but slipped away. The people around could not rescue him as the water dragged him furiously.”
Salim’s body was later found in a valley in Kurba. His father described him as “vibrant and responsible,” saying the family has accepted the tragedy as the will of Allah.
“Salim has left a huge vacuum in our hearts. He was always willing to assist others, and that has resulted in his untimely demise,” he said. “I urge parents to be vigilant with their children, especially during the rainy season.”
A close friend of the deceased, Salisu Bashir, said Salim was deeply committed to his faith and friendships.
“He was very friendly and supportive. Salim will always be missed. My last moment with him was earlier that day when he asked me to perform ablution so we could pray together,” he said.
