In a tragic and unsettling development, the parents of four-year-old Miguel Ovoke are calling for the immediate closure of BrickHall Schools located in Cadastral Zone B11, Kaura District, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. This demand follows the release of an autopsy report which indicated that the young pupil died from electrocution, contradicting the school’s initial claim that the death was due to choking during feeding hours.
The distressing revelation has sparked outrage among the community, leading to a protest at the school premises. The demonstration saw the participation of grief-stricken parents and local youths, united in their demand for justice and accountability from the educational institution. Reports from the scene described a tense atmosphere as joint security personnel, including police officers, were deployed to manage the crowd. Efforts to control the situation reportedly escalated to the use of tear gas and warning shots fired into the air, with security forces allegedly threatening to shoot if the protesters did not disperse.
The sequence of events began with the tragic incident in April, when young Ovoke reportedly died under mysterious circumstances at school. Initially, the school authorities attributed the incident to an accident during mealtime. However, doubting the school's version of events, the boy’s devastated parents sought further investigation into the cause of their son’s death. The subsequent autopsy has now revealed electrocution as the cause, leading to a vehement call for the school's closure.
The medical report from Excel Specialist Hospital, where Ovoke was pronounced dead, noted that the child was unresponsive upon arrival with no signs of cardiopulmonary activity and was officially declared 'Brought in Dead.' The hospital's initial findings were based on accounts from the school, citing choking, but these have been starkly contradicted by the autopsy results.
In response to these troubling findings, the parents have engaged Abuja-based lawyer Deji Adeyanju to pursue their case, seeking not only justice for their son but also measures to ensure such a tragedy does not recur. The community's response underscores a profound mistrust towards the school’s handling of the incident and raises serious concerns about safety standards and accountability in educational institutions.
As the case unfolds, the FCT Educational Authority faces increasing pressure to take decisive action regarding the future operation of BrickHall Schools. The incident has left the community in mourning and highlighted critical issues of child safety and institutional responsibility that demand urgent attention.
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