A teacher in a private college, Simple Faith Schools, Agbara, Lagos State has been accused of flogging a junior Secondary school 2 (JSS2) pupil to death.
The boy whose name was given as Emmanuel Amidu died after being rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Surulere
The victim’s father, Akinola Amidu, claimed that the 12-year-old was flogged by a teacher when he went to school on Thursday, May 12, 2022.
He said his son started vomiting shortly after he was beaten and was rushed to a hospital, where he gave up the ghost.
The boy’s father accused the school management of trying to cover up his son’s death and protecting the mathematics teacher, one Steven, who allegedly flogged Emmanuel for not finishing his assignment.
He said, “I was at home that Thursday because I was on leave. I recall that Emmanuel asked me for money to buy a new exercise book and I gave him N500 to buy the book and give the remaining change to his sister.
“Later that day, I was called by the management of the school that Emmanuel was vomiting. Meanwhile, this was a boy who left home without any health issue. I had to go to the school and we moved him to a hospital.
“I later learnt that the whole thing started after their class teacher, Mr Steven, beat the whole of his class for not completing their mathematics assignment
“Emmanuel was actually using my phone torchlight to do his assignment a day before, but I had to collect the phone from him and his sister because I needed to be in contact with the office. We had issues with our electricity at home.
“How can somebody just die from vomiting if nothing triggers it? The management of the school is trying to protect the teacher.”
Akinola, 45, demanded the arrest and prosecution of the teacher, as he urged the state government and the police to give the family justice.
Emmanuel’s 13-year-old sister, Rachael, said that her brother vomited after he was beaten.
She said, “I was called by our English teacher that my brother was not feeling fine and he did not eat and had been sleeping.
“His friend told me that they were beaten for not doing their sums in mathematics and after that he was just sleeping and vomiting.”
When contacted the school Principal, Adetayo Akanji, described the incident as unfortunate.
He said, “I was there when Emannuel died on Friday and it was unfortunate that it happened this way. Yes, Steven flogged the whole class for not doing their sums, but not with the intention to hurt them.
“Some hours after that, he (Emmanuel) placed his head on his desk and he started vomiting, after which water was poured on his head.
“When he started to vomit, the proprietor called me and we took the boy to the hospital. In fact, the father joined us when he was taken to LUTH where he and I were running around to get prescribed drugs for him. But before we came back, he had given up. Our school reported the matter at the Morogbo Police Station.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the police is not aware because the matter has not being reported.
“I have called the DPO of Morogbo Police Station and he confirmed that no such case was reported there,” he added.