Outrage and sorrow have been triggered by the untimely death of two-year-old Winnie Akakue on March 17, 2026, at Wisdom Gate International School, Campus 1, Eligbolo.
Now that justice must be done, her parents are demanding explanations.
According to the DAILY POST, the family is accusing the police of conducting a biased investigation into the incident’s circumstances amid the storm.
Outrage and sadness have been triggered by the untimely death of two-year-old Winnie Akakue on March 17, 2026, at Wisdom Gate International School Campus 1, Eligboloon.
Now, her parents are requesting answers and insisting that justice be done.
According to the DAILY POST, the family is accusing the police of conducting a biased investigation of the incident’s circumstances amid the storm.
Fathe’s Account of the Event
Dr. Iasuaka Akaker, a Winniefather, described the agonizing sequence of events after a bookshelf allegedly fell on her.
The child had a fractured skull, according to a verbal briefing from the pathologist who performed the autopsy, he said.
The fact that the family was only informed after the school had already transported the child to two different medical facilities worried Akakue.
According to reports, medical professionals at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) confirmed that she was brought in dead.
He also claimed that the scene of the incident was tampered with, saying that before any independent evaluation could be conducted, the bookshelf was moved and cleaned.
Additionally, he claimed that some people were trying to coerce his family into a quick funeral and out-of-court settlement.
I am aware that the aforementioned AIG has continued to exert pressure from wherever he is, he continued. I was informed that the detained had been released on Thursday.
“While we are grieving and in pain, we found the school’s attitude very disturbing because they have been trying to put pressure on me through proxies and high-ranking individuals.”
“I’m not sure how safe I am right now, but all I want is justice for my
He also claimed that the scene of the incident was tampered with, saying that before any independent evaluation could be conducted, the bookshelf was moved and cleaned.
Additionally, he claimed that some people were trying to coerce his family into a quick funeral and out-of-court settlement.
I am aware that the aforementioned AIG has continued to exert pressure from wherever he is, he continued. I was informed that the detained had been released on Thursday.
“While we are grieving and in pain, we found the school’s attitude very disturbing because they have been trying to put pressure on me through proxies and high-ranking individuals.”
“I’m not sure how safe I am right now, but all I want is justice for my daughter so that I can at least put her to rest knowing what killed her.
daughter so that I can at least put her to rest knowing what killed her.
The issue has not been thoroughly investigated; instead, it has been suppressed in the hopes of finding a solution.
Concerns Regarding the Police Procedure and Autopsy Report
Additionally, Akakue refuted police allegations that his family neglected to request the autopsy report, arguing that authorities had previously promised to get in touch with them as soon as the report was prepared.
He claimed that despite police confirming receipt of the report during a follow-up investigation, attempts to get clarification were unsuccessful.
The father voiced his displeasure with the investigation’s course, claiming that authorities seemed more concerned with finding a speedy solution than learning the whole truth.
“When they invited us on Tuesday, they were only hammering on the idea of having a quick resolution,” he continued.
We’ve made it clear that we want to go to court, as I mentioned. Did the infant arrive alive at the first hospital, according to the claims? Was she alive when she left? everything that we don’t know.
“There is no indication from the body language that a thorough investigation has been conducted. We are currently awaiting the police to complete their procedures so that we can proceed to court.
He affirmed that the family is getting ready to pursue legal action.
Mother’s Story and the Effect on the Family
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Winnie’s mother, Mrs. Chinyere Akakue, described getting contradictory information from the school.
She claimed that when she arrived at the school, she was met with a terrible reality, despite the teacher’s initial phone call suggesting that her daughter was still alive.
“A lot of people were already on the ground when I got there,” she remarked. Why the crowd, I wondered? Until one of the teachers led me down to where she was lying on the couch unattended and no one was responding, I was still unaware of what was going on.
“Now they led me to the corner and began asking me, “Madam, how many children do you have?” I knew it was over at that point.
“I was near my child.” She was already cold when I looked at her and felt her.
“It’s been three whole weeks without my child,” she continued, thinking back to the days following the incident. Before letting her leave for school in the morning, I shared a bed with the child.
“I’ve been waiting for her to return home for three full weeks, but she hasn’t.” She’s not in the house.
Everyone is concerned about her siblings. Naturally, they were informed by the school that Winnie was at home, and they also lied to them. Winnie wasn’t home when they arrived.
“They asked where Winnie was when we eventually arrived home that evening. Winnie wasn’t present. When I told them what had happened, they all began to cry.
Chetam Nwala, a lawyer and activist, demanded swift action, asking authorities to close the school while a comprehensive investigation is conducted.
Additionally, he stressed the importance of law enforcement organizations handling the case with diligence and openness.
The official response from the school
The administration of Wisdom Gate International School expressed sadness over the event, characterizing it as extremely tragic.
In a formal statement, the school expressed its sympathies to the grieving family and insisted that the child was given medical attention right away.
The school stated that it promptly reported the incident and has been cooperating fully with relevant authorities to ensure a transparent investigation.
It also reassured parents and the public that the safety and well-being of pupils remain its highest priority.
The management claims that no information has been concealed from investigators and that internal reviews are continuing to improve safety procedures.
Regulations and Government Directives
In response to the incident, the Rivers State Government ordered the immediate closure of Wisdom Gate International School, Campus 1, Eligbolo.
In a statement released on April 20, the Ministry of Education said that after consulting with the administration of the school, it conducted an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
The government expressed sympathy to the bereaved family and asked the public to respect the family’s privacy and not disseminate unreliable information.
The school will stay closed until all issues are resolved, according to the authorities.
Dr. Peters Nwagor, the Commissioner for Education, reiterated the government’s commitment to upholding stringent safety and quality standards in all state schools.
Reopening Requests in the Face of Persistent Grief
The management of the school and a number of interested parties have called for a reconsideration of the closure despite the ongoing investigation, citing its wider impact on students, parents, and staff.
They contended that even though the tragedy was still extremely painful, the extended suspension of academic activities was interfering with learning and adding to the stress on families, who now needed to find quick alternatives.
Toyon Obikoya, the owner of the school, called for compassion while acknowledging the government’s authority and characterizing the shutdown as unexpected.
“The kids at Wisdom Gate International School are our kids,” she said. It is evident that our commissioner is a father; in this institution, he is our grandfather. We are calling on him because of this. He is entitled to halt operations for the time being.
However, since the education of other children is equally at risk, we are pleading with him to show us mercy.
As a law-abiding organization, we are unable to respond to the parents’ calls.
Where do we turn these kids, though? We had to close the school because this incident occurred during the time they were writing the exam.
“We are pleading with people to step in and claim all children as their own.”
Obikoya insisted that the school has made multiple attempts in good faith to get in touch with the grieving family through the proper channels, such as religious and community leaders.
“The family insisted that we communicate with them through their attorney and so forth,” she stated. Knowing this, we relocated to his hometown of Tai, Ogoni kingdom, in order to speak with the Anglican Diocese Bishop, who guided us to our beloved pupilathy’s grandparents.
The school’s administration then made the same trip to Etche to meet the Bishop. We didn’t do any of this to intimidate or display arrogance, but rather to see how we could get in touch with the family.
She added that the police are currently investigating the matter and promised that the organization would not impede any inquiries.
The appeal was echoed by some parents of students, who emphasized the financial and emotional burden the closure has placed on families.
“It’s really heartbreaking,” said Cynthia, one parent. I can relate to the parents’ suffering because I lost a child
We are begging for empathy and a little compassion because it is extremely difficult for us as parents, but there is nothing we can do to bring the child back. Wisdom Gate has demonstrated academic and moral excellence.
On behalf of my co-parents, please show mercy. It’s challenging for us. We don’t understand. Most of us don’t get enough sleep. My blood pressure is rising, too.
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