By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
The sudden death of a final year student Edima Umoh of Full Life Secondary School who died in the school dormitory while sleeping has pitched the school management and the deceased family against each other.
The incident which occurred last week Thursday has thrown both the school management and family of deceased into endless mourning as all parties have expressed shock over the mysterious death of her brightest student who was writing the ongoing WAEC examination.
Narrating the incident to newsmen who visited the school on Wednesday, the Principal, Mrs AniefonteAbasi Victor-Williams described the death of Edima as mysterious.as she was healthy on the fateful day.
“We are fully aware of the demised of our students Edima Ini Umoh, she was in SS3, currently writing her final exams, she was in this school from creche’, she was the only pioneer student remaining to graduate before the sad event took place.
“From a family of five children and all her elderly ones passed through this school, she was the last child of her parents. Everything happened quickly, because by the time that I was called, I was already ministering in my husband church as I am also a pastor and had left the school.
“Shortly before we left school,she was with a crossed slippers, she was healthy, we even sent her to call another student from the hostel that afternoon.” She narrated.
However, the principal said the deceased had earlier complained of headache and the school Nurse administered Paracetamol during lunch time at exactly 2:30pm and after taking her lunch the deceased was normal.
“We were told that she earlier complain of headache and the nurse gave her Paracetamol, during lunch time, 2:30pm, she was fine, she went to eat and even had some more because here, we run a very homely facility here, if a child is not satisfied, they have the right to get more meal.
Williams disclosed that when she left the school , the deceased complained of headache again which compelled the school Nurse to give “Coartem ” malaria drug but she turned it down insisting that they should call her mother to bring “Amatem” malaria tablet being her regular drug for malaria treatment.
The principal said while waiting for the mother to arrive in the school, the deceased pleaded that they allow her to sleep and she died in her sleep.
“The hostel parents came back to check those on Prep, if they were reading this was when she saw white substance mixed with blood coming out from Edima’s nose, that was when she raised alarm and there was Panic everywhere.
“By the time they carried her out of the bed, she had messed herself up, they clean her up and the Nurse tried ressocitating her until the Doctor arrived , we affiliate Premier Clinic, my boss and every other schools leaders were called and they all ran down to the school immediately, I mate them at the premier clinic where the girl was on oxygen, and we prayed, hoping she will respond.” Williams said.
Meanwhile , the family of the deceased have demanded for Autopsy to ascertain the cause of death of the teenage girl and has threatened legal action if they are not given a satisfactory response.
In a letter titled “Demand For Full Disclosure Of Events Leading To Unnecessary And Unfortunate Death Of Miss Edima Ini Umoh” from Nemo Judex Chambers signed by Edikan Lawrence (Esq) addressed to the “The Proprietor Full Life Academy” and made available to newsmen in Uyo, the family demanded detailed account of events culminating to the dead of their daughter in the school premises.
A copy of the letter which was served to the state Commisioner for Education, Akwa state Commisioner of Police stated that action would be taken against the school if there is no response within the expected period.
According to the letter, “the saddest part of the entire story is that up 18 this moment, the school has not been able to give a full and detailed account of what transpired within your school campus that culminated into such a regrettable, untimely painful and unfortunato loss of an exceptionally bright, lively and intelligent gir of 15 years old in your custody and care who died of “unnatural causes”.”
The family also warned that if the school fail to furnish them with relevant information , they would seek redress in court.
“TAKE NOTICE that where you to refuse to act in terms of this demand within the Time stated above, we have our client’s instruction to resort to other legal measure to ensure that justice ; not only done but, seen to be done in this case and I wil be without further recourse to you.” The family warned.
