February 12, (THEWILL) – The management of Chrisland schools said it is saddened, over the death of Whitney Adeniran, who died on Thursday, during the school’s inter-house sports activities, at Agege Stadium, Lagos State.
Whitney’s father, Michael Adeniran, had taken to social media on Saturday night, to demand a probe into the death of his daughter. He insisted that she had no health condition as of the time the school bus picked her up for the event.
But the management of the school, in a statement on Sunday, said while it does not intend to join issues or trend her treasured memory on media traffic to change compelling narratives that are devoid of fact, it had to break its silence.
The statement read, “The management and staff of Chrisland Schools Limited, with a deep sense of loss, announce the death of our precious student, Whitney Adeniran; whose painful exit occurred on Thursday, February 9th, 2023.
“We are heartbroken and distressed. Whitney was one of our Day students, who opted not to participate in the inter-house sports march past for reasons we were not very sure of.
“However, on discretion, we respected her decision to err on the side of caution because, on the 20th of January, it is in our records that she complained about not-too-buoyant health and we immediately contacted her parents. Her father, Mr Michael Adeniran, came to the school to take her home. We emphasised to her parents to take a critical look at her.
“It is instructive to state that Whitney slumped in public view and not under any hidden circumstances whatsoever. Our immediate response was to take advantage of proximity by identifying the nearest medical facility to take her to, where the Doctor on duty administered oxygen and every aid possible to her.
“Even as her family made funeral plans for an immediate burial, we differed politely and reiterated the need to establish a scientific verification of the underlying cause of death as mandatorily required in circumstances like this.
“We immediately notified regulatory stakeholders and agencies to allow for a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of the developments.
“In spite of the compelling imperatives to fill any information gaps in public space, we stopped short of making any media sensation out of this because the deceased in question was minor and deserving of our unqualified respect. We also prioritised according to respect to the privacy of the family and were with them consistently to mourn together.
“As parents, We feel the deep pain of this loss and our thoughts are with the family and friends of this wonderful girl. As we continue to uphold the sobriety of this moment. We resist any urge to join issues or trend her treasured memory on media traffic.
“As we eagerly await the outcome of an independent post-mortem process, we remain unwaveringly committed to supporting the family at this critical moment and pray fervently for the fortitude to bear this painful loss.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident saying, “the matter was reported to the police immediately after the incident occurred.
“The case is presently at the State Criminal Investigation Department and an autopsy is going to be carried out to know the circumstances that led to her death. That’s all the update I have for now.”
