The Lagos State Government has launched an investigation into the tragic death of a two-year-old pupil at Smiley Kids Montessori School, located in Sangotedo on Lagos Island. The heartbreaking incident occurred on Wednesday, January 15, and has left the child’s family and the local community searching for answers.
The child’s mother, identified on social media as Ellla (@AbiaPrincess_X), shared the devastating news through her X account (formerly Twitter), describing how her daughter, who left for school in good health, tragically returned lifeless. Initial reports attributed the cause of death to drowning in the school’s swimming pool, but the mother has raised suspicions of foul play.
The grieving mother alleged that the story of drowning might have been fabricated, claiming that her daughter was electrocuted and that her body was then placed in the pool to cover up the real cause. She pointed to the pool’s high barricade, questioning how a two-year-old could have possibly accessed it.
“Smiley School International, Sangotedo, Lagos Island, please, bring her back. We cannot bear this alone,” she pleaded online. She further warned other parents to be cautious about enrolling their children at the school, emphasizing her distrust of the institution’s safety measures.
Reacting to the tragic event, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), through its Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Titilayo Adeniyi-Vivour, assured the public of the government’s commitment to uncovering the truth.
In a statement released via the DSVA’s official X handle, Adeniyi-Vivour expressed condolences to the bereaved family and revealed that a multi-agency task force had been deployed to investigate the matter thoroughly.
She explained that the Lagos State Task Force on Safeguarding and Child Protection, in collaboration with the Office of Education Quality Assurance, the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, and the Lagos State Safety Commission, had already visited the school for a fact-finding mission.
Additionally, the case has been escalated to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti for a criminal probe and potential prosecution.
