A 12-year-old student of the Air Force Girls Military School, Jos, Phoebe Egiedenawe Jerrylaw, has died at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Edo State, with a civil society group calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Phoebe, an indigene of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, was reportedly recognised as the 2026 Junior Best Aircraft Woman at her school.
The Edo State Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights, through its Coordinator-General, Comrade Aghatise Raphael, said it was concerned about the circumstances surrounding the child’s treatment and subsequent death.
According to the group, Phoebe was admitted to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital on August 7, 2026, after medical tests reportedly showed malaria and an increased white blood cell count.
The coalition said information from the family indicated that the girl was stable and was not suffering from an immediately life-threatening condition when she was admitted.
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However, the family allegedly told the group that around 10pm on August 20, a doctor who was not assigned to Phoebe’s care gave her medication taken from another patient’s drugs without the knowledge or consent of her parents.
The family also alleged that the doctor left without adequately monitoring Phoebe after the medication was administered.
The coalition said Phoebe reportedly developed a severe reaction afterwards and died on August 21.
It stressed that the allegations had not been independently established and called for a transparent investigation to determine exactly what happened.
The group wants authorities to establish the medication that was given to Phoebe, who authorised its use, details contained in her medical records, the monitoring she received afterwards and the actual cause of her death.
The coalition also said the family’s claim that Phoebe bled from different parts of her body should be properly investigated through an independent medical or forensic examination where appropriate.
It called for the preservation and release of the girl’s complete medical records, including prescriptions, drug administration records, laboratory results, nurses’ reports, doctors’ notes and monitoring charts.
The group also requested details of every medication administered to Phoebe, including the drug names, dosages, time of administration, the medical professional who prescribed or authorised them and where the drugs came from.
It urged the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the circumstances surrounding the girl’s treatment and death.
The coalition further called on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to investigate any alleged professional misconduct involving medical practitioners, while also requesting the involvement of the National Human Rights Commission.
It said UBTH management, the Edo State Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other relevant authorities should cooperate with any lawful investigation.
The group maintained that it was not declaring anyone responsible for Phoebe’s death before an investigation was completed, but said her family deserved clear answers.
Following his daughter’s death, Phoebe’s father, Apostle/Bishop AE Jerrylaw, paid tribute to her in a Facebook post on August 24.
He described her as his “lovely baby girl” and recalled her achievement at the Air Force Girls Military School, Jos.
He said Phoebe’s recognition as the 2026 Junior Best Aircraft Woman had made her parents and family proud.
Mourning her death, he wrote that he could not question God and expressed hope of meeting his daughter again on the resurrection morning.
The civil society coalition said the investigation should establish the full circumstances surrounding Phoebe’s treatment and death and ensure that any person found to have acted unlawfully or negligently is held accountable under Nigerian law.
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