By our Reporter
The Rivers State Police Command has denied allegations of a cover-up in the death of a two-year-old girl, Winnie Akekue, who reportedly died after a bookshelf fell on her at a school in Elimgbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The command confirmed that it had received the autopsy report on the child but dismissed claims that it was withholding the document from the family, describing it as a public record accessible upon formal request.
The police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a telephone interview, stating that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for thorough investigation.
She explained that the incident was initially handled at the Special Area Division, where a suspect’s statement was obtained before the matter was escalated to the State CID.
“The police cannot withhold an autopsy report because it is a public document. It is not a police document. Once the family formally applies for it, it will be released,” she said.
Iringe-Koko also denied allegations that the police were colluding with any parties to pressure the family into resolving the matter privately.
“Our duty is to ensure peace and conduct a proper investigation. Any attempt by third parties to influence the family cannot be attributed to the police,” she added.
However, the family of the deceased has continued to demand justice, alleging inconsistencies in the account of events and a lack of transparency.
The father, Iasuaka Akekue, told journalists that the incident occurred on March 17 at Wisdom Gate International School, where his daughter had been taken for the day.
He said he was informed that the child was asleep when a bookshelf fell on her, but a verbal report from the pathologist indicated that she suffered a fractured skull that led to fatal haemorrhage.
The father expressed concern that the school only informed the family after taking the child to two different hospitals, alleging that the scene of the incident was altered before authorities were notified.
He further claimed that some individuals had pressured the family to bury the child quickly and settle the matter, while also accusing the police of not being transparent in handling the case.
“At this point, all I want is justice for my daughter. I need to know what actually caused her death before we lay her to rest,” he said.
The child’s mother, Chinyere Akekue, also decried conflicting accounts of the incident, stating that she was initially told by a teacher that her daughter was still alive.
She added that the family had come under pressure from different quarters, including persons who contacted their church and relatives, urging them to quietly resolve the matter.
Meanwhile, the management of Wisdom Gate International School has denied any wrongdoing, expressing grief over the incident.
In a statement, the school said the child was attended to immediately and rushed for urgent medical care, but later died.
It stated that it had been cooperating fully with relevant authorities to ensure a transparent investigation and insisted that it had not withheld any information.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a child in our care. Our hearts are with the family at this painful time,” the statement read.
The school assured parents and the public that the safety and well-being of children remained its top priority, adding that it would refrain from further comments out of respect for the family and the ongoing investigation.
The case remains under investigation as authorities seek to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
