Tragedy at Government Science Secondary School: 16-Year-Old Student Dies of Electrocution

On Wednesday, February 28, tragedy struck at Government Science Secondary School, Maitama in Abuja, as 16-year-old student Meshack Agaba died of electrocution inside the school premises. According to reports from Punch, the incident occurred when Agaba unknowingly stepped on an electric cable that had tripped off an electric pole inside the school compound while on his way to fetch water from a tap.

A concerned parent of a pupil in the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented the negligence of the school management, stating that the electric pole and cable had been lying in the area before the incident, yet nothing had been done about it. The parent described the circumstances leading to the incident, noting that despite efforts to change the narrative by the school management after the police were involved, the truth remains that Agaba was electrocuted while trying to regain balance on a slippery surface.

The parent also criticized the school's response to the incident, mentioning that the management had only posted a picture of the deceased with the inscription "Gone too soon" without taking any tangible action to fix the fallen pole or address the issue. Furthermore, the parent expressed dismay over the school's attempt to suppress discussion of the incident on the Parent-Teacher Association's social media platform.

When contacted, the vice principal in charge of administration of the school, Mrs. Dogo Suzie, denied claims that the school management had suggested Agaba was trying to jump the fence when the incident occurred, urging journalists to visit the school to gather accurate information.

Confirming the incident, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, stated that the command had begun an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the mother of the deceased student took to social media to mourn her son, who would have turned a year older on March 2.

The tragic death of Meshack Agaba highlights the importance of prioritizing safety measures within school premises to prevent such avoidable accidents.