Abuja School: Family of deceased 4-year-old demands CCTV footage of tragic incident

The family of four-year-old Miguel Ovoke, who tragically passed away during feeding hours at BrickHall School in Abuja, has demanded access to the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage capturing the incident.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has sparked questions and concerns surrounding the circumstances of the young boy’s death.

BrickHall School, situated in Cadastral Zone B11, Kaura, Abuja, is owned by Senator Joy Emodi, a former member of the Nigerian Senate and Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on National Assembly Matters. Senator Emodi, also the founder and Chairman of the school, previously chaired the Senate Committee on Education during her tenure.

According to reports, Miguel Ovoke was rushed to Excel Specialist Hospital in Abuja by his teachers around 11 am in an unconscious state.

The hospital’s death certificate, dated April 24, 2024, attributes the cause of death to aspiration on meat during feeding at school, as indicated by Dr. Akinwande Ajayi on behalf of the medical director.

Medical findings upon examination revealed concerning signs, including fixed and dilated pupils with no response to light, impalpable peripheral pulses, unrecordable blood pressure, and absence of cardiopulmonary and respiratory activity.

Efforts to resuscitate Miguel Ovoke at Excel Specialist Hospital proved unsuccessful, leading to heightened concerns and calls for transparency from the grieving family.

In response to the incident, the family, accompanied by their legal representative, Deji Adeyanju, and FCT Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, visited BrickHall School to view the CCTV footage capturing the tragic event. This step underscores the family’s quest for clarity and accountability surrounding the circumstances leading to the untimely death of their young child.

The demand for CCTV footage aims to shed light on the incident and provide closure for the grieving family, who are navigating this heartbreaking loss with profound questions and a pursuit of answers.