Flogging of pupil: Anambra Govt closed School without investigation – Sources

By Karen James

As the report of an alleged flogging of a two years old child, Miss Ifechkwu Egnuniwe at Blessed Wisdom Model School Onitsha, continues, sources have called out the Anambra State government for ordering the closure of the school without investigation.

Investigation PECHILLY MEDIA, which was made available to THE RAZOR outlined so many fact, statements and evidence concerning the matter.

Anambra State commissioner for education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh had during a press conference announcing the closure of the school said: “According to the report, the victim broke her arm and sustained injuries on her tongue under circumstance yet to be explained.

“The report also stated that the proprietress of the school never reached out to the parents of the pupil to inform them of her injuries and no first aid treatment was administered on her when she sustained the said injury.

“The school has been closed, officers of the Anambra State Joint Enforcement Team were directed to ensure strict compliance with the closure order. The school remains closed until Mr Governor directs otherwise,” she said.

But sources are blaming the state government of acting hastily, and basing their judgement on hearsay, to shut down the school.

Mrs. Nkamigbo Elizabeth, the head teacher of the school said: “several witnesses who present on that day, being 28th of April, 2023.

“There has never been a 2-year-old student that has ever been flogged in the school, and no such incident of corporal punishment has occurred.”

“Furthermore, it is worth noting that corporal punishment is illegal in Nigeria, and schools are subjected to strict regulations in this regard. Any reports of such incidents are taken very seriously by the authorities, and schools found guilty can face severe repercussions, including revocation of their license to operate.”

PECHILLY MEDIA which investigated the incident said, “several witnesses who were present at the time of the alleged incident have repeatedly said to is that there was never a thing like that or ever seeing any evidence of such an occurrence in that school.

“Based on the evidence we gathered, pechilly Investigative stated that the claims of a child being flogged at Blessed Wisdom Model School Onitsha are baseless and unfounded.

“The child, little miss Ifechkwu Egnuniwe only dislocated her elbow while playing with her follow children on the school play ground, this was ascertained by the medical doctor we interviewed in the course of our investigation who examined her and carried out an x-ray on the dislocated elbow when she was brought to his hospital on the very day of the incident, Dr Nwonu Simon, hospital located at Nnanyelugo Bone Cure Center at 11 Awka Rd Onitsha, stated that the dislocated elbow from the physical examination and the x-ray showed that it was as a result of a fall, as no cane stripes were evident on the affected part of the body in question and the entire body.

“It is important to note that such allegations can be damaging not only to the school but also to the individuals involved, and it is essential to verify any such reports before spreading them. We urge the public to be cautious and always seek credible sources when dealing with issues of this nature.

“In conclusion, the parents of the child ignored the invitation of the police after they must have gone and reported the case to them.

“Overall, it is uncalled for, for a Commissioner to take action without investigating the matter properly. It is a failed decision of the government,” PECHILLY MEDIA investigators stated in their report.