Lagos shuts school over two-year-old pupil’s death
The Lagos State Government has ordered the closure of Smiley Kids Montessori School, located in Heritage Place Estate, Sangotedo, following a swimming pool accident that claimed the life of a two-year-old girl, Rapheala Ogbodo.
The announcement was made via a statement shared on the Lagos State Government’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday.
According to the statement, officials from the Lagos State Safety Commission and the Office of Education Quality Assurance, under the Ministry of Education, have visited the school to conduct a preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The school has been sealed off to allow for a thorough investigation and to identify potential lapses that led to the unfortunate death.
The statement read, “The attention of the Lagos State Safety Commission has been drawn to the swimming pool accident that occurred at Smiley Kids Montessori, Heritage Place Estate, Sangotedo, Lagos, on Wednesday, 15th January 2025, which led to the death of a two-year-old female, Rapheala Ogbodo.
“The officials of the Lagos State Safety Commission and the Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education have visited the scene of the accident to carry out a preliminary investigation and ascertain the root cause of the unfortunate incident.
“While the school is presently under lock pending further investigation, the state government extends its deepest condolences to the family of the victim and expresses its commitment to preventing future occurrences.
“The Director-General of the Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, stated that all school owners and caregivers must comply with safety regulations to prevent accidents in the State.
“Mojola further stated that further information would be made available upon completion of investigations into the accident.”
PUNCH reported on Thursday that a Nigerian woman, identified simply as Ella, had called for justice following the death of her two-year-old daughter at a school in Lagos.
She explained that her daughter left for school on Wednesday but did not return alive.
