Delta shuts school after 19-month-old pupil flogged to death

The Delta State Government has shut down a primary school in Asaba following the death of a 19-month-old pupil, Obinna Udeze.

RELIABLESOURCENG.COM learnt that the infant died from injuries sustained as a result of reported flogging on Monday, by a teacher, one Emeka Nwogbo, said to be the son of the school proprietress.

Obinna was allegedly given 31 strokes of the cane for playing with water and getting wet.

The little boy was said to have fallen sick after the beating which left his body lacerated. He was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, but his health condition deteriorated until he eventually died on Saturday morning.

The Delta State Commissioner for Basic Education Chika Ossai told the media on Sunday that the school was not approved by the state government. He explained that the government’s decision to seal up the affected institution was because the proprietor did not have an operational licence.

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The accused teacher is currently in police custody while the spokesman of Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, said they have commenced investigations into Udeze’s death.

Said Edafe: “We have the suspect who is the son of the owner of the school in our custody. He is a teacher in the school.

“But I wonder how a teacher would flog a pupil 31 strokes of the cane. I am only hearing it from the media that it was 31 strokes of the cane. “The question is was anybody there to count the strokes while the flogging was on?”