Tragedy struck in Minna Niger state capital when two boys of same parents were on Saturday swept off by flood after a heavy downpour.

The incident occurred at the Dutsen Kura, western bypass following several hours of heavy rainfall which also destroyed properties and rendered many homeless.

Reports has it that the parents of the two boys had sent one of them to purchase sugar which they will use to sweeten the tea for their breakfast but unknown to the family that the boy was not to return alive.

After waiting for several minutes for the boy to bring the sweetener for the morning tea, his elder brother according to the source was sent to find out why he hasn’t returned.

Eye witnesses told our correspondent that stepping out of their compound the elder brother sighted his younger one in the river not far from their home as he was being swept off and quickly jumped into the river to rescue him.

“As he tried to get hold of his younger brother the flood water which has already overflown it’s bank as at the time of the incident swept both of them away”, the eyewitness said.

The remains of the two brothers, our correspondent gathered were later discovered at a distance far away from their residence.

Meanwhile, rainstorm and accompanying thunder has destroyed the transmitters of the pioneer privately owned Radio station, “Prestige FM” forcing the station to go off air while many houses had their fences pulled down or roofing pulled off.

The Executive Director of Prestige FM Radio, Alhaji Mahmud Abdullahi confirmed how thunder struck destroyed its transmitters.

”We are off air now because of the damage done to our transmitter by rainstorm accompanied this morning heavy downpour”.

Niger state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) Public Relations Officer (PRO), Alhaji Ibrahim Hussain Audu confirmed the death of the two brothers but was quick to add that ‘we are yet to get their identities’.

According to the NSEMA PRO, “We have been able to make contacts with the father of the boys very soon we will issue a statement on the incident”. (Daily Independent)

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