A four-year-old pupil of Brickhall School in Abuja, Miguel Ovoke, has died after allegedly choking on a piece of meat during a meal.

The school’s spokesperson, Janet Agu, in a statement on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, said the pupil choked on a piece of meat in the home-packaged meal he ate during school hours on April 24.

Condoling Ovoke’s family, Agu said the school was saddened that the life of the pupil could not be saved despite the timely response of its trained nurse and the eventual decision to rush him to a hospital.

She noted: “While noting the decision to mourn the late pupil by closing the school for one week, the school urged everyone connected to the tragedy to respect Miguel’s memory with dignity and peace.

“Medical professionals and law enforcement agencies should be allowed to conclude with the autopsy.”

Agu said the school, in response to the incident, convened an urgent meeting with the school community on the day of the incident.

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She said: “Out of respect for Miguel’s memory and to honour his bright spirit, we suspended classes for over a week, allowing our community time to mourn and reflect on this profound loss.

“We have cooperated fully with the relevant authorities to ensure a thorough and compassionate resolution for everyone affected especially Miguel’s grieving family.

“The leadership of both the school and the Parents Teacher’s Forum has visited Miguel’s family to offer our support and condolences during this indescribably difficult time.

“We stand with them in their grief and extend our support to all who loved Miguel, his friends, classmates and our entire community.

“As the school resumes, particularly for students preparing for their Senior and Junior School Certificate examinations, the school management reaffirms its commitment to the well-being and education of all its students.”

She said the school would continue to work closely with medical professionals, law enforcement agencies, and Ovoke’s family to clarify the circumstances surrounding the pupil’s death.

The Star