“Government Launches New Probe Into Deaths Of 3 Queen’s College Students

Adamu said this investigation will help to reveal those responsible for the tragedy, according to The Cable. The report said one of those to be investigated would be Lami Amodu, the principal of the school at the time of the deaths.

Nigeria’s education minister, Adamu Adamu, has said the government is launching a new probe into the deaths of students of Queen’s College, Lagos.

Adamu noted that the first phase of the investigation only focused on the cause of the deaths, and denied insinuations that Amodu was being shielded from justice. NAIJ.com learnt that some of the students who died from complications arising from drinking dirty water between February and March 2017 included Vivian Osuinyi, 13, Bithia Itulua, 12, and Praise Sodipo,14.

While investigations commenced on the incident, Amodu was transferred to Edo state to head another federal government college leading to speculation that she was being protected by some powerful persons in government. Adamu however said: “The (initial) investigation was done by this ministry in conjunction with the ministry of ‎health. “And what they discovered…the problem came about because of overstretched facilities and some infections going into the water system of the college.”

He added that the panel only recommended that the challenges should be addressed and to ensure hygienic environment. “There was no recommendation on [what to do] the leadership. It is left to the ministry to take action on those responsible.

“But the investigation that was done actually earlier is about the cause of the thing not blame-apportioning. The ministry is now probing the leadership,” he said.

A parent whose child had been admitted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, as saying that no fewer than 15 pupils of the school were receiving treatment in the hospital. She had said: “My daughter did not show any symptom until about two weeks ago. We took her to a private clinic in our area, where she stayed for five days without any improvement.

“Then, we took her to a standard hospital where some consultants battled with the infection. After I had spent about N150,000, I was advised to take her to LUTH. “In LUTH, I saw a lot of Queen’s College parents with their children. We were about 15 in number. Just yesterday, they brought a girl in school uniform. She was brought by her parents directly from the school. "Unfortunately, while some of our children are struggling to survive, the school is trying to manage its reputation by lying that all is well."