Grief and outrage have trailed the death of a two-year-old girl, Winnie Akekue, who reportedly died after a classroom accident at a private school in the Eligbolo area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The child’s parents are now calling for a thorough investigation, alleging attempts to suppress details surrounding the incident.
The toddler was said to have sustained fatal injuries on March 17 at Wisdom Gate International School after a bookshelf reportedly collapsed on her while she was resting in the classroom.
Speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the father, Iasuaka Akekue, said the family received troubling information about the circumstances of the incident, adding that they were not promptly informed before the child was taken to hospitals.
He disclosed that preliminary findings from a pathologist indicated that the girl suffered a severe head injury, which may have led to her death.
Akekue further alleged that the scene of the incident was altered before his arrival, claiming the furniture involved had been moved and the area tidied up.
He also raised concerns over what he described as mounting pressure from certain individuals urging the family to bury the child quickly and accept a settlement.
“We just want to understand exactly what happened and ensure justice is done,” he said, expressing fears over his safety and dissatisfaction with the handling of the case.
The bereaved mother, Chinyere Akekue, said she received conflicting accounts about the incident, noting that initial communication from the school suggested the child was still alive.
She described the loss as devastating to the family, adding that their other children have struggled to cope since the incident.
“We have been left in confusion. Different versions of what happened were given to us before we later heard about the accident at the hospital,” she said.
The school, however, expressed sorrow over the incident in a statement, stating that the child was attended to immediately and rushed for medical care.
It added that it had reported the matter to relevant authorities and was cooperating fully with investigations.
While extending condolences to the family, the management assured parents and the public that it remains committed to the safety of pupils and has begun reviewing its safety procedures.
The school also maintained that it has been transparent in its dealings with authorities and would refrain from further comments as investigations continue.