Two-year-old pupil killed by falling bookshelf

The Rivers State Government has ordered the immediate suspension of Wisdom Gate International School, Elimgbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, following the death of a two-year-old pupil, Winnie Akekue, who was reportedly crushed by a falling bookshelf on the school premises.

The incident, which occurred on 17 March, led to calls for accountability after the child’s parents alleged that the school initially concealed details of the tragedy.

In a statement issued on 15 April, the Rivers Commissioner for Education, Peters Nwagor, said the ministry conducted an independent investigation and decided to suspend the school’s operations pending the resolution of all issues surrounding the incident.

“Wisdom Gate International School, Campus 1, Eligbolo, is hereby suspended from operations and shall not resume academic activities until all issues surrounding the matter are fully resolved,” the statement read.

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Mr Nwagor expressed the government’s sympathy to the grieving parents and appealed to the public to respect their privacy and avoid speculation.

He added that the ministry is committed to maintaining safety standards and quality assurance in all schools across the state.

The father of the late child, Lasuaka Akekue, alleged that he and his wife were only informed of the accident after the school had taken their daughter to two hospitals. He said a verbal autopsy report indicated that Winnie suffered a fractured skull that led to bleeding.

Mr Akekue also accused the school of cleaning up the scene and moving the bookshelf shortly after the incident, claiming that some persons pressured the family to bury the child quickly and settle the matter quietly.

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In an earlier statement, the management of Wisdom Gate International School said it attended to the child immediately and took her to the hospital, where she died.

The school insisted that it has been cooperating fully with authorities to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation.

PREMIUM TIMES recently reported how an 11-year-old student in Akwa Ibom state died after alleged bullying in school.