School flogging: Autopsy report reveals 19-month Delta child died of septic shock

The late 19-month child, Obinna Ohanazeze, who was allegedly flogged by his teacher at Arise and Shine Nursery and Primary School, Asaba, Delta State, died as a result of septic shock, an autopsy report has revealed.

Little Obinna was said to have received 31 strokes of the cane on February 7 after which he was hospitalized and later gave up the ghost five days later at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba.

Confirming the outcome of the medical investigation in Asaba on Tuesday, the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Bright Edafe said “the autopsy report indicates septic shock as the cause of death. That is what I can say for now; let the medical doctors and lawyers interpret what that means.”

Edafe also confirmed that the autopsy was conducted at FMC, Asaba.

The bereaved mother, 28-year old Gift had insisted that her only child died as a result of heavy flogging by his teacher who happens to be the son of the proprietress of the school.

According to her, Obinna’s classmates told her that the late minor was flogged like a goat.

“The next day, Tuesday, I took him back, that was when I could even see him properly, the bruises were uncountable. As I was making noise creating a scene for the teacher to come out, pupils from the class came out and told me that ‘our big mummy and uncle, and one aunty tied Obinna with white hanky on the hand and leg, and were flogging him like a goat,” she alleged.

The single mother said the child was taken to a private hospital where the medical personnel said he had internal bleeding as a result of flogging.

She noted that at the private hospital, Obinna was not responding to treatment and that the condition deteriorated which necessitated the referral to FMC where medics battled unsuccessfully to save the child.

(Daily Sun)