The Lagos State Government has shut down Smiley Kids Montessori, located at Heritage Place Estate, Sangotedo, Lagos, following the sudden death of a two-year-old pupil at the school.
This was confirmed by the Lagos State Safety Commission.
This comes after the mother using the handle Ellla@AbiaPrincess on X (formerly Twitter), cried for justice after her child, whose identity remains undisclosed, reportedly passed away on Wednesday, January 15.
The distraught mother disclosed that the school had falsely claimed that her daughter drowned. However, they later discovered that the cause of death was electrocution.
Alleging foul play, the mother suggested that her daughter may have been electrocuted and her body placed in the pool to simulate a drowning incident.
Reacting to the incident on Friday, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Mrs. Titilayo Adeniyi-Vivour, assured the public that the government would investigate the case to ensure justice is served.
In a statement, Lagos State Safety Commission confirmed that the school has been sealed, and investigations have commenced.
“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 commission said.
The Director-General of the Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, emphasised the importance of compliance with safety regulations by school owners and caregivers to prevent similar tragedies.
Mojola added that additional details would be provided upon the completion of the ongoing investigation.