16-year-old Meshack Agaba died from electrocution at the school
A tragic incident unfolded at Government Science Secondary School in Maitama, FCT, as 16-year-old Meshack Agaba died from electrocution on the school premises last Wednesday.
A source, preferring anonymity, revealed that the incident occurred when the student accidentally stepped on an electric cable connected to a tripped-off pole while fetching water. The source expressed concerns about the pre-existing hazard, noting that the school management had not addressed it before the unfortunate incident.
"The boy shares the same hostel as my child. The area was slippery, and in an attempt to regain balance, he accidentally stepped on the conductor, resulting in instant electrocution. It's concerning that even after this tragic incident, the school management has yet to address the hazardous pole. Instead, they merely placed a photo of the boy with a 'Gone too soon' inscription on a wall."
The concerned parent also expressed dismay over the school management's attempt to alter the narrative, especially after police involvement. They claimed that the boy had intended to jump the fence when the cable fell on him.
"They omitted the true cause of the boy's death, portraying it as a mundane incident. No acknowledgment of the real issue. Since the incident, the Parent-Teacher Association's social media platform has been restricted, preventing parents from discussing the matter. Despite being one of the top secondary schools in the FCT, the school's handling of this situation is disconcerting."
The police even arrived to take the principal into custody. The school administration falsely claimed that the boy was attempting to jump the fence when the cable fell on him. It's implausible for someone wearing only a towel to be trying to jump the fence at that time of the day.
I also learned from my child that, while rushing the boy to the hospital, the school security demanded their exit card, causing a delay that tragically led to the boy's death. The school refused to take responsibility for the incident. The fallen pole remains unaddressed, and academic activities continue without any acknowledgment from the school management.
The vice principal in charge of the administration of the school Mrs. Dogo Suzie, despite my explanation that I reside in Lagos State, insisted that I must travel to the school premises to inquire about the incident. She also denied the management's claim that the deceased was attempting to jump the fence.
She stated, "Why don't you make the effort to come to the school? If nothing had been done, other journalists would have covered it. The school did not even assert that the boy was trying to jump the fence. This was not mentioned in the police report we provided. We did not state that the boy was attempting to jump the fence."
"All the details are in the hands of the police. As a journalist seeking an accurate account of the event, it's advisable to go through the police, who will provide information on all our submissions. If you want a comprehensive understanding, I recommend visiting the school. This issue is not concealed. We never claimed the boy was attempting to jump the fence. Why are you reluctant to visit the scene?
"When you come here, you'll encounter concerned individuals. You can interview the school principal and even talk to the students. Merely calling won't suffice; you need to come to the site of the incident to witness what happened and interview people."
However, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, revealed that the command had initiated an investigation into the incident.
She responded affirmatively, stating, "Yes, we are," when queried about the police's awareness of the incident.
When pressed for information on any arrests made since the incident, she remarked, "The case is under investigation. I cannot provide further details on a case that is still under investigation until we conclude the inquiry."
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