Lagos shuts Redeemers School over death of five-year-old boy

Lagos State Government has ordered the closure of Redeemers Nursery and Primary School at Ogba, Ikeja, over the mysterious death of Chidera Eze, a five-year-old boy.

Eze was said to have died in the school owned by Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Dominion Sanctuary, Acme Road, Ikeja.

The state Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo, said the closure became necessary to pave the way for proper administrative investigations into the school’s operations, procedures as well as the conduct of its officials during and after learning hours.

She said the investigations would also ascertain how the Redeemers had conducted its operations in accordance with the schools’ safety standards and guidelines set for education institutions across Lagos.

She expressed government’s concern about the safety of all students across the state.

Adefisayo, in a statement, stated that investigation by the Office of Education Quality Assurance of the Ministry revealed that the Redeemers school was yet to conclude its registration “and is, therefore, not yet an approved school.”

Adefisayo said that the school would remain closed, pending an administrative investigation of its operations and procedures as well as the conduct of its officials – in line with schools’ safety standards and guidelines.

The statement read in part: “The investigation is a sequel to the death of a five-year-old pupil, who is suspected to have drowned during a swimming lesson while in the custody of the school. The police are investigating the matter.

“The ministry is concerned about the safety of the pupils, hence the need for intervention. The school will remain closed until all the required approval processes are concluded. Parents are advised to note the closure and wait for the conclusion of the administrative investigation”.

Earlier, the father of the deceased boy, Anthony Eze, narrated that the young Chidera reportedly drowned at the swimming pool of Ivory Health and Wellness Club, located on Ogundana Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja.

It was gathered the father had dropped his child in the school on Monday, May 16, 2022, only to be called hours later to come and pick his son’s lifeless body.

Eze blamed the school caregivers for negligence which he believed led to his son’s death as his corpse was allegedly left in the pool for more than 30 minutes before it was discovered and removed subsequently.