PRO: Grace Iringe-Koko
The Rivers State Police Command has denied allegations of withholding the autopsy report of a two-year-old girl, Miss Winnie Akekue, who died after a bookshelf reportedly fell on her in a classroom in Elimgbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The police clarified that the autopsy report is a public document and will be released to the family upon formal request.
Spokesperson of the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, stated this while responding to claims by the deceased child’s parents, who accused both the police and the management of Wisdom Gate International School of attempting to conceal details surrounding the incident.
She explained that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department for a thorough probe, adding that the police cannot withhold an autopsy report and would release it once the family formally applies.
She also dismissed allegations that the police were collaborating with individuals to pressure the family into settling the matter, stressing that any such moves were not from the police and that their duty remains to ensure justice and maintain peace.
The father of the deceased, Iasuaka Akekue, alleged that the school initially concealed the true circumstances of the incident, stating that his daughter was said to have been asleep when the bookshelf fell on her and that a verbal report from the pathologist indicated she suffered a severe skull fracture leading to fatal haemorrhage.
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He expressed concern that the family was only informed after the child had been taken to two hospitals and alleged that the scene was tampered with before their arrival, while also claiming that pressure had been mounted on the family by some individuals to quietly bury the child and settle the matter.
The child’s mother, Chinyere Akekue, also raised concerns over conflicting accounts, stating she was initially told her daughter was still alive and adding that the family has been under intense pressure from various quarters, including community and religious figures, to resolve the issue privately.
Meanwhile, the management of Wisdom Gate International School expressed sadness over the incident and extended condolences to the family, maintaining that the child was attended to immediately and taken for urgent medical care.
The school said it reported the matter promptly and has been cooperating fully with relevant authorities, denying any wrongdoing or withholding of information, and reaffirming its commitment to transparency and the safety of children in its care while noting that it would limit further comments due to the ongoing investigation.
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