The management of Chrisland School has reacted to the death of a 12-year-old student, Whitney Adeniran during an inter-house sports competition organised by the school at Agege Stadium, Lagos State, on Thursday.
The school’s position is contained in a statement released on Sunday, hours after the deceased student’s father and mother took to social media to raise the alarm about her death.
In a social media post on Saturday evening, Michael Adeniran, Whitney’s father asked the school to provide answers as to how his “healthy” daughter died in their care.
In a video that went viral, Whitney’s mother said that more than 500 students and 100 parents were present at the stadium for the inter-house sports activities but the school did not make provision for an ambulance or a doctor at the venue.
She said that her daughter was rushed to a health facility using the school bus.
She further alleged that her daughter was rushed to an “immunisation centre” instead of a hospital.’
Whitney’s mother, who was in tears, said that she observed that her daughter’s lips had turned black less than 30 minutes after her death.
Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Benjamin Hundeyin said, “The matter was reported to the police immediately after the incident occurred.
“The case is presently at the State Criminal Investigation Department and an autopsy is going to be carried out to know the circumstances that led to her death. That’s all the update I have for now.”
Meanwhile, many Nigerians took to social media to demand a probe into the matter.
Reacting, Chrisland School said, “The management and staff of Chrisland Schools Limited, with a deep sense of loss, announce the death of our precious student, Whitney Adeniran; whose painful exit occurred on Thursday, February 9th, 2023.
“We are heartbroken and distressed. Whitney was one of our Day students who opted not to participate in the inter-house sports match past for reasons we were not very sure of.
“However, on discretion, we respected her decision to err on the side of caution, because on the January 20, 2023, it is in our records that she had complained about a not-too-buoyant health and we immediately contacted her parents.
“Her father, Mr. Michael Adeniran, came to the school to take her home. We emphasised to her parents to take a critical look at her.”
Chrisland School said that Whitney Adeniran slumped in “public view and not under any hidden circumstances,” adding that she was rushed to the nearest medical facility for first aid.
“Our immediate response was to take advantage of proximity to first-aid, by identifying the nearest medical facility to take her to, where the doctor on duty, administered oxygen and every aid possible on her,” the school said.
The school urged the Adeniran family to endeavour to establish a scientific verification of the underlying cause of her death before her burial.
“We immediately notified regulatory stakeholders and agencies to allow for a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of the developments.
“In spite of the compelling imperatives to fill any information gaps in public space, we stopped short of making any media sensation out of this, because the deceased in question, was a minor and is deserving of our unqualified respect.
“We also prioritised according respect to the privacy of the family and were with them consistently, to mourn together. This is a painful loss for all of us,” the school said.
Chrisland School said its management and staff deeply felt the pain of Whitney Adeniran’s loss, adding that their thoughts and prayers were with the bereaved family.
“As we continue to uphold the sobriety of this moment, we resist any urge to join issues on her treasured memory, in media trends.
“As we await the outcome of an independent post-mortem process, we remain unwaveringly committed to supporting the family at this critical moment and pray fervently for the fortitude to bear her painful loss,” Chrisland School said.