Tragic Loss of a 2-Year-Old in Lagos School: Justice and the Call for Systemic Change
The Punch Newspaper recently reported the tragic death of a 2-year-old girl in a Lagos school, quoting directly from the mother’s account shared on X (formerly Twitter). In her emotional post, the mother, identified as Ella, addressed the Lagos State Government:
“Dear Lagos State Government, our two-year-old daughter went to school yesterday, Wednesday, and did not return alive. How do you have a pool on school premises without proper monitoring? They lied that she drowned in the pool, but we have uncovered that it was electrocution, and they dropped her in the pool to make it look like drowning.”
Ella alleged that the school has been deceptive about the incident, adding:
“They are lying to other parents, claiming the school is closed for maintenance instead of telling the truth. If nothing is done to close this school, other parents may cry over their own kids attending it.”
Ella also expressed her anguish on X, questioning the safety measures at the school:
“The school has barricades, how could a 2-year-old climb them? Please help me get justice for my baby. She just celebrated her second birthday last November, left home healthy on January 15, 2025, and never returned alive.”
This heart-wrenching plea has brought to light questions about negligence and accountability within the school system.
The Broader Questions: Justice and Prevention
As I reflect on this tragedy, I empathize deeply with the parents. Losing a child is devastating, and I can relate to their pain as someone who understands the bond between parent and child. However, this incident raises critical questions about justice, responsibility, and prevention.
What is the true nature of justice in such cases?
- Is justice served only after a child’s death, seeking accountability and consequences?
- Or is true justice preventing such deaths from occurring in the first place?
While justice served after the death of a child may offer some closure, it does not bring the child back. The argument that justice after a tragedy can prevent future incidents is valid, but must we wait for the loss of a child to act? Is one child’s death a necessary sacrifice for the safety of others? Surely, prevention is always better than cure.
Key Questions That Demand Answers
In this specific case, several pressing questions arise:
- Registration and Oversight:
- Is the school properly registered with the Lagos State Government?
- What is the nature of the school? A 2-year-old is likely part of a playgroup or preschool, which typically falls under the Ministry of Youth and Social Development. What oversight does this ministry provide to such schools?
- Care and Supervision Standards:
- What level of care and supervision should a playgroup provide?
- For children aged 18 months to 2 years, who cannot be left unattended at any time, are there adequate caregivers and supervisors trained to manage such young children?
- Protection Policies and Protocols:
- Does the school have a codified child protection policy, broken into actionable processes and protocols?
- Are staff trained on these policies, and are they effectively implemented?
- Swimming Pool Protocols:
- Why does a school catering to toddlers have a swimming pool?
- What safety measures are in place to restrict access to the pool?
- How did a 2-year-old end up in the pool? Whether electrocution or drowning was the cause of death, both point to lapses in safety and monitoring.
- Regulation and Parental Responsibility:
- What regulatory framework governs schools with facilities like swimming pools?
- What questions should parents ask when enrolling their children in schools?
Empathy and the Need for Systemic Change
While justice must be served for this child and her family, true justice goes beyond punishing those at fault. It requires us to establish systems and structures that protect children proactively. We must create environments where negligence and abuse are not given room to thrive.
It is disheartening that many of these tragedies stem from environments we have created—systems lacking adequate oversight, policies that are not enforced, and a culture that waits for tragedy before taking action.
Justice Before, Not After
Justice after a tragedy provides accountability, but justice before prevents the tragedy altogether. Justice before is found in strong policies, effective training, rigorous oversight, and a commitment to creating safe environments for our children.
We must prioritize prevention over reaction, ensuring that no parent experiences such heartache. Let this incident serve as a wake-up call to all stakeholders, parents, schools, regulators, and governments. We owe it to our children to act decisively and protect them from harm.
This tragedy is a sobering reminder of the gaps in our child protection systems. Justice must be done, but let us also commit to building systems that ensure no child dies needlessly due to negligence or oversight.
What are your thoughts? How can we collectively work towards justice before, rather than justice after?
