Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The management of Wisdom Gate International School in Eligbolo, near Port Harcourt, has made an emotional appeal to the Rivers State Government to reconsider the indefinite suspension of academic activities following the tragic death of a two-year-old pupil, Wynnie Akakue. The little girl died after a bookshelf collapsed on her while she was asleep in a classroom on March 17, 2026, an incident that sparked public outrage and led the state Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor, to order the immediate shutdown of Campus 1 pending a full investigation. More than a month after the tragedy, the school’s proprietress, Toyon Obikoya, is now pleading for mercy, arguing that the closure is devastating not only for the institution but for hundreds of other pupils, their families, and teachers who had no involvement in the incident. “The children in Wisdom Gate International School are our children,” Obikoya told journalists in Port Harcourt. “We see that our commissioner is a father; he is our grandfather in this institution. That is why we are calling on him. He has done the right thing by suspending activities for now. But we are telling him that he should please show us mercy because other children’s education is equally at stake.”
The tragedy has ignited a fierce battle between justice for the deceased child and the desperation of a community whose children have been thrown out of school. While the bereaved parents, Dr Iasuaka Akakue and Mrs Chinyere Akakue, have accused the school of negligence and an attempted cover‑up, other parents of Wisdom Gate pupils have stepped forward to plead with the government to show compassion. One parent, who identified herself simply as Cynthia, described the prolonged closure as a source of mounting anxiety and financial strain. “It is really heartbreaking. I have lost a child, so I understand the pain the parents are going through. There is nothing we can do to bring back the child, but we are pleading for empathy and a little compassion because, as parents, it is really difficult for us,” Cynthia said. She added that Wisdom Gate has been academically and morally sound, and that the shutdown has left many families confused and unable to sleep. “Most of us are not sleeping well. Like me, my blood pressure is rising.” The parents’ plea highlights a painful dilemma: the rights of one grieving family against the educational future of hundreds of other children.
The proprietress revealed that the school has made repeated efforts to reach the bereaved family, including travelling to the hometown of the deceased child in Tai, Ogoni Kingdom, to meet with the bishop of the Anglican Diocese, who then led them to the child’s grandparents. “We reported the incident that happened and shared our sincere empathy with the family and then we left,” Obikoya said. “Afterwards, the management of the school also travelled to Etche to see the bishop. We did all of these just to see how we could reach the family, not to intimidate or to show pomposity.” She confirmed that the matter has been taken to court and that the school is a law‑abiding entity that will not obstruct any investigation. However, the family’s lawyer, Chetam Nwala, has accused the school management of attempting to influence authorities and public opinion through a press engagement with selected parents. Nwala alleged that the school reached out to the Governor’s office to compel the Commissioner for Education to lift the closure order, a move he vowed to resist through lawful means. He also raised concerns that the school operated for years without a functional Parent‑Teacher Association at the affected campus and that communication channels were tightly controlled by management.
The incident itself has been marked by conflicting narratives. The child’s father has alleged that the school attempted to clean up the scene and move the bookshelf before authorities arrived, and that the family was initially given inconsistent accounts of what happened. A verbal autopsy reportedly indicated that Wynnie suffered a significant skull fracture that led to a fatal haemorrhage. The Rivers State Police Command, however, has denied allegations of a cover‑up, stating that it has received the autopsy report and that the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department for a thorough probe. The police have insisted that the report is a public document that will be released to the parents upon formal application. Meanwhile, the school has maintained that it acted promptly and transparently, rushing the child for urgent medical care without delay.
As the political and legal battles intensify, the government has remained firm. Commissioner Nwagor has repeatedly stated that the school will remain shut and barred from resuming activities until all issues surrounding the incident are fully addressed and resolved. The state government has shown no sign of backing down, despite the emotional appeals from other parents and the school’s management. The case has also drawn attention to the broader issue of safety standards in private schools across Nigeria, with activists calling for mandatory safety audits and stricter enforcement of building codes, particularly regarding the anchoring of heavy furniture in classrooms. For the parents of Wisdom Gate, the wait continues. For the family of little Wynnie, the search for justice grinds on. And for the school, the future hangs in the balance, locked behind gates that may not reopen until a court or the government decides otherwise.
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