The Kano State Government has cleared St Louis Secondary School, Kano, of wrongdoing in the death of a 13-year-old boarding student, Maimuna Sani Salisu, saying an investigation found that she died of natural causes.
The finding was contained in the report of a government-appointed committee set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the Junior Secondary School II student.
The report was presented to the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ibrahim, by the committee’s co-chairman and executive secretary of the Private and Voluntary Institutions Management Board, Baba Umar.
Presenting the report, Umar said the committee conducted investigations at the school’s dormitory, clinic, recreational areas and other relevant facilities.
He said the student’s parents were informed immediately after she collapsed and that medical attention was promptly sought.
According to him, Maimuna was examined by staff of the school clinic and a medical professional who was a relative of the deceased, with the assessment indicating that she died of natural causes.
The committee, he added, found no evidence of abuse, beating, corporal punishment, mistreatment or any other physical harm that could have caused her death.
The investigation followed concerns raised by the deceased’s family over conflicting accounts surrounding the circumstances of her death.
The family had alleged that the school informed them on June 13 that Maimuna was ill and had been taken to International Clinic, Kano, but that her elder sister was told upon arrival that she had died.
The family also raised concerns over claims that the student died following an asthma attack after she was late to the mosque.
It was further alleged that she was flogged and made to kneel for an extended period by senior students for refusing to sweep, with the family fearing that the punishment could have worsened her condition.
However, the committee said its investigation found no evidence to substantiate the allegations or establish that any wrongdoing by the school contributed to the student’s death.
Receiving the report, the SSG commiserated with the family and commended the committee for what he described as a diligent and objective investigation.
Faruk said the committee was constituted to establish the truth, ensure justice and sustain public confidence in the state’s educational institutions.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the safety and welfare of students and ensuring that concerns arising from incidents in schools are transparently investigated.
