The tragic d3ath of two-year-old Winnie Akakue at Wisdom Gate International School, Campus 1, Eligbolo, on March 17, 2026, has sparked outrage and grief.
Her parents are now demanding answers, insisting that justice must be served.
The aggrieved family is accusing the police of biased investigation of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Father’s Account of the Incident:
Winnie’s father, Dr Iasuaka Akakue, recounted the painful sequence of events that led to the loss of his daughter.
According to him, the school informed the family that Winnie had been asleep in her classroom when a bookshelf allegedly collapsed on her.
A verbal briefing from the pathologist who conducted the autopsy indicated that the child suffered a fractured skull, he said.
Akakue expressed concern that the family was only notified after the school had already taken the child to two separate medical facilities.
At the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, doctors reportedly confirmed that she was brought in dead.
He further alleged that the scene of the incident was tampered with, claiming the bookshelf was moved and the area cleaned before any independent assessment could take place.
He also accused certain individuals of attempting to pressure his family into a swift burial and an out-of-court settlement.
He added, “I’m aware the said AIG has continued to mount pressure from wherever he is. On Thursday, I was told the detained had been released.
“While we grieve and in our pain, we found the attitude of the school very disturbing, because they’ve been using proxies, highly placed persons to try to pressure me.
“At this point, I don’t know how safe I am, but, all I want to ask is justice for my daughter, to at least, be able to lay her to rest, knowing actually what killed her.
“No thorough investigation has been made on the matter, everything has been about suppressing the matter, hoping that we would be able to reach a resolution.”
Concerns Over Autopsy Report and Police Process:
Akakue also challenged claims by the police that his family failed to request the autopsy report, insisting that authorities had earlier assured them they would be contacted once the report was ready.
He said efforts to obtain clarity were unsuccessful, even after police confirmed receipt of the report during a follow-up inquiry.
The father expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of the investigation, alleging that officials appeared more focused on reaching a quick resolution than uncovering the full truth.
He added, “On Tuesday, when they invited us, they were only hammering on the idea of having a quick resolution.
“Like I said, we have made that point clear and that we want to head to court. The claims of having gone to the first hospital, did the baby come there alive? Did she leave there alive? All of that we are not aware of.
“The body language does not suggest any proper investigation has been done. And so, we are just now waiting for the police to finish their processes so that we head to court.”
He confirmed that the family is preparing to seek legal redress.
Mother’s Account and Family Impact
Winnie’s mother, Mrs. Chinyere Akakue, described receiving conflicting information from the school in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
She said the initial phone call from a teacher suggested that her daughter was still alive, only for her to arrive at the school and be confronted with a devastating reality.
She said, “When I got there, a lot of persons were on ground already. I was wondering, why the crowd? I still didn’t realize what was happening, until one of the teachers took me down to where she was lying on the couch unattended to, nobody was answering me.
They now took me to the corner and started asking me, madam, how many children do you have. At that point, I just knew it was just all over.
“I went close to my baby. I looked at her, I felt her, she was already cold.”
Reflecting on the days since the incident, she added, “It’s been three whole weeks without my child. A child that I slept with on the same bed before letting her go to school in the morning.
“Three whole weeks I’ve been expecting her to come back home, and she’s not been coming back home. She’s not there in the house.
“Her siblings, everybody is worried. Of course, they heard from school, they lied to them too that Winnie was at home. When they got home, Winnie was not in the house.
“When we finally got home that night, they were asking where Winnie was? Winnie was not there. They all started crying when I told them what had happened.”
Calls for Investigation and Accountability:
A legal practitioner and activist, Chetam Nwala, called for decisive action, urging authorities to shut down the school pending the outcome of a thorough investigation.
He also emphasized the need for law enforcement agencies to handle the case with diligence and transparency.
School’s Official Response:
The management of Wisdom Gate International School expressed sorrow over the incident, describing it as deeply tragic.
In an official statement, the school extended condolences to the bereaved family and maintained that immediate steps were taken to provide medical attention to the child.
The school stated that it promptly reported the incident and has been cooperating fully with relevant authorities to ensure a transparent investigation.
It also reassured parents and the public that the safety and well-being of pupils remain its highest priority.
According to the management, internal reviews are ongoing to strengthen safety protocols, while maintaining that no information has been withheld from investigators.
Government Directive and Regulatory Action:
In response to the incident, the Rivers State Government ordered the immediate closure of Wisdom Gate International School, Campus 1, Eligbolo.
The Ministry of Education, in a statement dated April 20, said it undertook an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the child’s death after engaging with the school’s management.
While extending condolences to the grieving family, the government urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information and to respect the family’s privacy.
Authorities confirmed that the school would remain closed until all concerns are fully addressed.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing strict safety and quality standards across all schools in the state.
Appeals for Reopening Amid Ongoing Grief:
Despite the ongoing investigation, the school’s management and several concerned stakeholders have appealed for a reconsideration of the closure, citing its wider impact on pupils, parents and staff.
They argued that while the tragedy remained deeply painful, prolonged suspension of academic activities was disrupting learning and placing additional strain on families who must now make urgent alternative arrangements.
The school’s proprietress, Toyon Obikoya, described the shutdown as unexpected but acknowledged the authority of the government’s decision, while pleading for compassion.
She stated, “The children in Wisdom Gate International School are our children. We see that our commissioner is a father, he is our grandfather in this institution. That’s why we are calling on him. He has the right to suspend activities for now.
“But we are telling him that he should please show us mercy because other children’s education is equally at stake.
“The parents are calling but because we are a law-abiding institution, we can’t do otherwise.
“But these children, where do we turn them to? The period they were writing the exam was when this incident happened, and so we had to close the school.
“We are crying out that the people should please intercede and see all children as theirs.”
Obikoya maintained that the school has made several attempts to reach the bereaved family through appropriate channels, including community and religious leaders, emphasizing that these efforts were made in good faith.
She said, “The family demanded that we speak to them through their lawyer and so on. Knowing this, we moved to his hometown in Tai, Ogoni kingdom, to reach the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese, who led us to the grandparents of our dear pupil.
“And we reported the incident that happened and shared our sincere empathy with the family and then we left.
“Afterwards, the management of the school equally travelled to Etche to see the Bishop. Why we did all of these is just to see how we can reach the family, not to intimidate or to show pomposity.”
She also noted that the matter is now before the police and assured that the institution would not obstruct any investigation.
Some parents of pupils echoed the appeal, highlighting the emotional and financial strain the closure has imposed on families.
One parent, Cynthia, said, “It’s really heartbreaking. I’ve lost a child, so I understand the pain the parents are going through.
“There is nothing we can do to bring back the child but we are pleading for empathy, for a little compassion, because we, parents, it’s really difficult for us. Wisdom Gate, they’ve been good academically, morally.
“Please have mercy on behalf of my co-parents. It’s difficult for us. We are confused. Most of us are not sleeping well. Like me, my blood pressure is rising.”
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