The
mother of a seven-year-old primary one pupil, Samuel Olayinka, says she has yet
to get over the loss of her only son, days after he was crushed to death by the
car of a baale (traditional leader), Chief Spencer Savage.
It was learnt that Olayinka, a pupil of St. Kizto Primary School II, was
playing with his friends on the premises of Fagba Junior Grammar School in Iju
Station during the closing hours when the accident happened.
The two schools and five others are located in the same compound.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Savage had driven into the secondary school premises
around 3pm on October 7, and was reversing while trying to park not knowing
that Olayinka was behind the car.
Olayinka had been waiting since 1pm for his sister – who is in JSS 3 – at a
neighbouring school, to take him home.
He was said to have been rushed to a private hospital in the area where he
died.
The deceased’s mother, who identified herself simply as Mama Mary, said her joy
had been stolen. She, however, said she had taken solace in God. She said:
learnt he was playing, because he was a reserved child. Most times, I forced
him to play at home; he was very calm. His sister normally goes to pick him
when she closes from school at 3pm.
guards at the school that regulate the vehicles entering the compound. He was
attending a private school before I withdrew him from there when I could no
longer afford the fees.
left everything to God. It is a tragedy that I can never forget. I did not know
how I got admitted in a hospital when I was told he had died. The baale
(Savage) visited me once while I was in the hospital and he paid my hospital
bill.”
who spoke to Punch on the phone, said he had come to the school on the fateful
day to discuss his child’s poor performance with the principal. He said he made
efforts to save Olayinka’s life to no avail.
He said:
did not know he (Olayinka) was behind the car, trying to pick something and I
didn’t see him in my rear-view mirror. I rushed him to Ayodele Medical Centre
and the doctor tried his best. The doctor said he had an internal
hemorrhage.
was subsequently detained at a police station for two days. It was not
intentional. I also have children. I wanted to see the principal to discuss my
child’s poor performance.”
Olayinka’s teachers, who did not want his name in print, blamed the accident on
the inadequate security in the school.
He said:
that the boy was at the back of his car. I still believe the accident could
have been averted if he (baale) was more careful. The back tyre crushed the
boy’s head and he died afterwards. The incident was reported at the Iju
Police Station.
have allowed a little child like that to wait that long for his sister. Our
school closes at 1pm; the mother should have come to pick him herself. The
security here is lax. We have only two security guards manning the seven
schools. The guards resume by 8am and close at 2pm.
vulnerable to hoodlums since its fence collapsed. Our pupils are no longer safe
from intruders and abductors. These are imminent dangers which need the
government’s attention urgently. The seven schools have a population of over
5,000.”