By Nicholas Ojo
Start – Rite Schools at National Assembly Quarter, Gudu Distric in Abuja has declined comment on the reported death of one of its pupils, a six-year old girl who allegedly died after drowning in a swimming pool.
Quest Times had reported that a lady identified as Modadeoluwa, on Thursday, took to social media to seek for justice, following the death of a 6-year-old schoolgirl.
Modadeoluwa, who claimed to be a family member of the victim, said the little girl drowned on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, in a swimming pool belonging to Start Rite School in Abuja.
The lady who said the deceased was her cousin, alleged that the swimming instructor tossed her multiple times into the shallow end of the pool and she hit her head on the pool wall, thereby suffering internal bleeding.
She added that the school has refused to take responsibility for the incident but remains open; and carries out academic activities as though nothing happened.
“Startrite killed my baby cousin! She had swim day in school, the “coach ” was teaching her a stunt, threw her up and she’d hit her head and had an internal bleeding. We asked for a footage and they released a doctored tape!,” @oluwamiisimii posted.
“On the 2nd of November, due to the negligent behaviour of @startriteschool my cousin was killed (child in the 2nd frame). We found a way to get evidence from the CCTV footage even though the school deliberately tried to cut the scenes of what exactly happened.
“Our efforts to access justice has been frustrated by the school. All we want is justice. She was only 6 years. #justiceforModadeoluwa (2).”
Another Twitter user, @David wrote: “My little cousin had a swim day at school apparently, the coach advised her to swim as far as possible and swim back, when she got back he tossed her multiple times in the air at the shallow side of the pool, she hit her head and had internal bleeding.
“Even with that, the coach was all the while pushing her in, we later requested the CCTV film and when we arrived, we saw them doctoring the tape. Presently the school is open like nothing happened and they aren’t assuming responsibility as well as misleading different guardians.”
@Bobanure also wrote: “On November 2nd 2022, my smart, kind, beautiful 6-year-old cousin, Madade, was killed by the negligence of the swimming instructor @sttartriteschool in Abuja.
“The school has refused to accept any culpability and have deleted the portion of the CCTV footage that shows what transpired in the pool. Please help us retweet and share until the school is held accountable.”
ALSO READ: 6-year-old Abuja schoolgirl didn’t die by drowning but from food Aspiration – Police
Quest Times gathered that the school, which belongs to the late wife of the former Senate Leader and ex-Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, had been shut since the incident occurred.
The source said Police had been visiting the school regularly before it was reopened on Thursday.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command spokesperson, DSP Josephine Adeh, told Quest Times that investigations revealed that the deceased didn’t die by drowning, but as a result of food Aspiration asphyxia.
She said; “The death of Modade Lawal is indeed a pathetic one. However, investigations so far have revealed that she didn’t die by drowning but as a result of food “Aspiration asphyxia”.
“On the 2nd of November, she had a swim day as part of the school curriculum and had earlier celebrated her birthday that same day before hitting the pool in the company of other pupils, under the supervision of the Lifeguards, instructors, and teachers.
“At about 11:45 pm, while being coached, the instructor noticed she wasn’t properly responding as she naturally would, he stopped and brought her out of the 4-2 feat deep poolside to examine her and noticed she was having difficulties breathing.
“The school medical team was alerted and she was taken to the hospital where she sustained a series of further heart attacks. The doctor struggled to revive her but she was confirmed dead at about 6:45 pm of the same day.
“While enjoining members of the public to remain calm, it is worthy of note that the deceased has been buried by the family and a discrete investigation continues. Subsequent development will be communicated,” she added.
Meanwhile, our correspondent who visited the school on Monday was denied access. The security insisted that he can see the management staff only on appointments.
The security however provided a phone number which our correspondent called.
The lady who picked the call said they cannot make any comments now about the child passing.
“We are still investigating and grieving, we cannot make any comments concerning the child passing, right now,” she said.