Kano: Death of female student sparks uproar

From Desmond Mgbboh, Kano

A visit to St. Louis Girls’ Secondary School, Bompai, Kano, on Monday, revealed an unusual presence. At the gate of the school was a well-equipped police van that appeared to be minding its business, but was closely observing every movement around the premises.

The sudden security deployment to the school which is neighboured by a Catholic Church, reflects the tense atmosphere generated by the death of a 13-year-old female boarding house student of the school, Maimuna Salisu. Different narratives have been put out about the death of the Muslim girl in a Catholic school. Together, these have generated a mild anxiety in the state in recent times.

According to a police statement, Maimuna, a JSS 2 died on June 13, 2026, and information regarding her death was conveyed to the family at about 7:30 p.m. on the said date.

Police spokesman, Abdullahi Kiyawa, said: “The command received a formal petition dated June 17, 2026, from Nakudu Law Partners, solicitors to Mrs. Nusiaba Rabiu Dan Sheriff, regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of her daughter, Maimuna Salisu, a JSS 2 boarding student of St. Louis Secondary School, Kano.”

Police quoted part of the petition: “On June 13, 2026, at approximately 7:20 p.m., the school authorities informed the deceased’s parents that she was ill and had been taken to International Clinic, Kano, for medical attention. Her elder sister was immediately dispatched to the hospital.

“Upon arrival at about 8:19 p.m., she was informed by the attending doctor that the deceased had been confirmed dead. The deceased was buried on June 14, 2026, in accordance with Islamic rites.”

Police statement on the petition: “The petitioners alleged conflicting accounts regarding the cause of death. While the school initially stated that the deceased died of an asthma attack after being late to the mosque, other testimonies received by the family suggest she was punished by senior students through flogging and forced, prolonged kneeling for refusing to sweep, which allegedly worsened her condition.

“The family expressed concern over the conflicting narratives and requested a thorough police investigation to establish the true cause of death and ensure accountability.”

Police then constituted a Special Investigation Panel (SIP), led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Shehu Idris, with members drawn from the state Ministry of Justice to provide legal guidance and oversight throughout the process.

Daily Sun gathered that, as part of preliminary inquiries, three teachers of the school, one male and two females; three students, all females and senior students and two female witnesses with relevant information on the incident were invited by the panel to give their own accounts.

“Their statements were obtained and medical, forensic and other evidentiary processes are ongoing to establish the exact cause of death and the circumstances surrounding it,” police said.

It was also gathered that the doctor who received the deceased at the International Clinic, Kano, on the day of the incident was initially detained by the police but has since been released.

Police in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, assured the family of the deceased, the school community and the general public that the investigation would be thorough, impartial and transparent: “Anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law, while those exonerated will be cleared accordingly.  The findings and recommendations of the panel will be made public at the conclusion of the investigation.” 

But just as investigations were still ongoing, the state government decided to constitute an Administrative Investigation Committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the death of the same student. Chaired by Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Ali Makoda, members of the committee included Aminu Hussain, Special Adviser to the Governor on Justice and Constitutional Matters; Hamza Dantani, Baba Umar,  Executive Secretary, Private and Voluntary Institutions Management Board; Sunusi Dawakin-Tofa,  Director General, Media and Publicity, Imam Zubairu,  Proprietor, Private Schools; PTA Chairman, St. Louis College, Kano; Hafsat Adhama, Senior Special Assistant on Girl Child Education, Secretary and Binta Abdullahi Mukhtar, REPA who will serve as co – secretary.

The panel was tasked with conducting a thorough and independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of the student: “It is also to establish a clear timeline of events and identify any lapses in supervision, welfare management, or institutional procedures.

“Its terms of reference include examining the events leading to the student’s death, reviewing relevant medical records and reports, investigating the social environment within the college, assessing allegations of bullying, coercion, or unauthorized disciplinary practices among students, and evaluating existing complaint and reporting mechanisms.”

Mustapha Muhammad, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said: “The committee will also review staff compliance with student supervision guidelines, recommend reforms to disciplinary and boarding school management systems, and propose measures to strengthen emergency medical response procedures and student safety standards across schools in the state.

“Governor Yusuf reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the truth surrounding the incident is established and that appropriate measures are taken to prevent a recurrence. Members were directed to discharge their responsibilities with fairness, diligence, and utmost professionalism in the interest of justice and the safety of all students.”

School authorities have remained tight-lipped and have refused to speak to the media ever since. There is fear all over the place. A source wondered why government set up an administrative panel when the police investigation regarding the same case was still ongoing.

The source also faulted membership of the panel, pointing out that it represented only one divide: “There is no Christian among the panel membership. The outcome of the panel may be affected by the distribution of its membership and by the fact that most of them are political appointees.”

Another source said: “This was not the first time that she collapsed and was successfully revived. It is just unfair that the whole tragedy is made to look like the school had failed in its responsibility. She

returned after the break on Tuesday, a day after the resumption date. And slumped on Saturday evening.

“St. Louis has raised several generations of top-flight females and mothers in Kano and the whole of the North. The school is the last place where human rights issues are abused or under expressed or where procedures are short-changed.

Police spokesman, Kiyawa, insisted that it would amount to a breach of procedure to comment further on an ongoing investigation. He, however, promised that once the investigation was concluded, the findings would be made public and appropriate follow-up actions would be effected.