Only Chrisland School Ikeja was shut over student’s death, says Lagos

The Lagos state ministry of education says only the Chrisland High School in Ikeja is affected by its shutdown order.

The Lagos government on Sunday ordered the closure of Chrisland School in Opebi, Ikeja, over the death of Whitney Adeniran.

NAN reports that Ganiu Lawal, the ministry spokesperson, in a statement on Tuesday, said the order does not affect other schools operated by Chrisland owners.

The statement added that the clarification became necessary to address the anxiety of parents and members of the public on the claim that the school defied the state government order on its closure.

“Chrisland High School, Ikeja, will remain temporarily closed to students and staff to allow unhindered investigations and afford all stakeholders, including parents, students, staff, and friends of the deceased, time to grieve,” the statement reads.

“The regrettable death of Whitney, as reported, is undergoing investigation by the police and relevant agencies of the Lagos state government.”

According to the statement, the findings of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is completed.

TheCable Lifestyle earlier reported how the family of the deceased had tackled the management of the affected school for not observing a total shutting down as directed by the state government.

Speaking with TheCable Lifestyle, Constance Christopher, who is believed to be the sister to the mother of the deceased student, had wondered why the “primary school would still be open” despite the order

“We want justice for Whitney Adeniran, if the state government has issued an order that the school Chrisland should be shut down, it should be shut down,” she said.

“Not them telling us whether primary, secondary.. are they bearing different names?”

Whitney, a 12-year-old student of Chrisland School in Opebi Ikeja, died during a sports event on February 9.

Blessing Adeniran, the mother of the deceased, accused Chrisland of negligence as her family continued to question the school.

She claimed the school made no provision for emergency response at the event, hence didn’t administer first aid.

The mother said the girl had no pre-existing heart condition despite the doctor’s allusion to a cardiac arrest.

While reacting to public criticism, the management at Chrisland School earlier said Whitney had reported “not-too-buoyant” health on January 20, contrary to claims by her parents.

The school said it opted to take Whitney to a health centre, and not a hospital, based on proximity considerations.

Chrisland also dismissed insinuations that there was foul play in the death case while citing that she slumped in public.