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The police in Anambra State on Wednesday arrested Mrs. Njideka Imoka, the teacher that allegedly flogged a pupil, Chidimma Ukachukwu, to death at St. John of God Secondary School, Awka.
The police also arrested the school’s principal, Mrs. Phil Odenigbo, who happened to be the wife of the immediate-past secretary to the state government, Mr. Paul Odenigbo.
Chidimma was said to have collapsed after being flogged by the teacher for failing to do her assignment.
She was rushed to the Catholic church-owned Regina Caeli Hospital, Awka, where she was confirmed dead.
A source told our correspondent that Imoka said Chidimma collapsed long after she was flogged.
The teacher said at the police station that she had administered a light caning on the deceased and several others before leaving the classroom.
Imoka said she had to rush back to the Chidimma’s classroom when she heard a commotion in the deceased class.
On getting to the classroom, she added that she saw the deceased’s classmates trying to revive her and also joined in the effort.
According to her, Chidimma was rushed to a private hospital near the school, but when there was no doctor on duty the deceased was taken to the Catholic hospital, where she eventually died.
Our correspondent learnt that following the intervention of Governor Peter Obi and the leadership of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, owners of the school, the principal and the teacher had been released.
It was learnt that efforts were being made by the church and the government to ensure that the matter was amicably resolved.
When contacted to explain the governor’s role in the matter, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, promised to call back. He did not return calls to his line afterwards.
It was learnt that the family, the school and the church did not report the incident to the police. However, the suspects were arrested after the matter was reported in the media on Wednesday.
A doctor’s report obtained from the hospital where the girl died said the deceased was brought in alive.
It however stated that Chidimma was vomiting, had headache and pains in her leg. The report further said her condition worsened a few hours later when she began to have abnormal respiratory movement.
According to the report, efforts were immediately made to revive her but she did not respond and later died.
Her remains, it was learnt, were moved to the hospital’s mortuary.
In the meantime, Chidimma’s family has said they are not interested in pursuing the matter because they did not suspect any foul play.
In a sworn affidavit submitted to the police in Awka on Wednesday, the mother of the deceased, Mrs. Ukachukwu, said the family was not blaming anyone for their daughter’s death.
The suspect, the principal, her husband, a reverend father, Chidimma’s mother were seen at at the Central Police Station, Awka on Wednesday.
The school, which was closed down after the incident, was still deserted when our correspondent visited on Wednesday.
But the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Uju Okeke, had said the school was not closed because of the incident but that the school was on a mid-term break.
A reverend sister that was found on the premises declined to make comments on the matter.
Meanwhile, the national leadership of NANS has sent a delegation led by its Deputy Senate President, Mr. Nwachukwu Okpalaoka, to Awka to investigate the matter.
Okpalaoka said the interest of the student body was to ensure that the matter was not swept under the carpet.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Raphael Uzoigwe, confirmed that the girl’s family had written to say they did not suspect any foul play in the matter.
He said the police would still make their position known when investigations were concluded.
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