Queendaline Ekezie, a student of Army Day Secondary School, Imo state, collapsed and died after she was reportedly punished by soldiers to frog jump for coming late to school.
However after whimpering in pain, the 15-year-old Queendaline was rushed to the hospital for treatment by the Principal of the School. Her friend who was present in the scene explained what led to the incident to Punch, she said;
“On that day, we had set out at 7am. We waited for a motorcycle to take us to school till it was 8am. When we became frustrated, we decided to board a commercial cab. But the driver did not leave the motor park until the car was filled with passengers.
When we got to school at 9am, we met three sets of late comers on the ground. Two soldiers were asking each set to do frogmarch to a particular distance after which they picked their bags and entered their classes.
When it was our turn, we were about reaching the finishing line when they said we were not doing it right and we should start again. After we repeated it, we went to pick our school bags, but one of the soldiers said he was still not satisfied.
I completed the punishment the third time and I picked my bag and left. I suddenly discovered that my friend was not with me. When I returned to the place, I saw her crying. She started vomiting the food she ate that morning. She was saying, ‘my back, my chest.’ The soldiers were just staring at us."
She added that when they got to the hospital, the victim was given an injection and was put on a drip, but unfortunately she couldn't survive it.
“After they put on the drip, she started vomiting blood. Blood was spurting out of her nostrils, mouth and ears. I called the teacher to inform her and she alerted a nurse who said her condition had worsened”
The victim’s sister, Immaculate, a student of the school as well, blamed the hospital for inadequate medical attention which contributed to her death. Meanwhile her dad collapsed upon hearing the news and he is currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
