Police arrest principal, teacher for student's death

The student was flogged to death for failing to do her assignment

A teacher and the school principal accused of inflicting injuries believed to have led to the death of a student, Chidimma Ukachukwu, have been arrested by the Anambra Police Command.

The duo, Njideka Imoka and Phil Odenigbo, are staff of St. John of God Secondary School, Awka.

The spokesman of the command, Ralph Uzoigwe, announced the arrest at a news conference in Awka on Wednesday.

Uzoigwe said that after the arrest, the principal and the teacher were taken to Central Police Station, Awka, for interrogation and subsequent detention.

The teacher, Imoka, admitted flogging the deceased alongside other students for failing to do an assignment.

She added that it was much later that she was alerted by other students that the girl was not feeling well and that she was rushed to Regina Caeli Hospital, Awka, where she died.

Addressing journalists, the Deputy Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, South East zone, Nwachukwu Okpalaoka, described Ukachukwu's death as unfortunate.

Okpalaoka said it was the association that asked the state’s Commissioner for Education, Uju Okeke, to close the school, following the death of the girl, as a mark of respect.

......IKECHUKWU ONYEKWERE/DAILY TIMES, OCTOBER 25, 2012