The Kano State Police Command has launched an investigation into the death of Maimuna Salisu, a 13-year-old junior secondary school boarding student at St. Louis Secondary School, Kano. The probe follows a petition filed on June 17 by Nakudu Law Partners, solicitors to the deceased’s mother, Nusaiba Dan-Sheriff, alleging foul play and contradictory narratives surrounding the teenager’s death.
Conflicting Accounts of Final Moments
According to the petition, school authorities contacted Maimuna’s parents on June 13 at approximately 7:20 p.m., claiming she had fallen ill and was taken to the International Clinic in Kano. The deceased’s elder sister arrived at the hospital at about 8:19 p.m., only to be informed by the attending doctor that Maimuna was already dead. Her remains were buried on June 14 in accordance with Islamic rites.
However, the family has raised serious concerns over what they describe as conflicting accounts of her final moments. While school authorities initially claimed that Maimuna suffered a fatal asthma attack after arriving late to the school mosque, separate testimonies gathered by the family allege a harsher reality. The petition claims late Maimuna was subjected to corporal punishment by senior students—specifically flogging and forced, prolonged kneeling—for refusing to sweep, an ordeal that allegedly worsened her underlying medical condition.
Special Investigation Panel Constituted
In response to the petition, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, directed that the case be handled with strict transparency, diligence, and adherence to human rights compliance. To ensure an impartial investigation, the Command has set up a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Shehu Idris. To maintain legal oversight, officials from the Kano State Ministry of Justice have also been co-opted into the panel.
Teachers and Senior Students Detained for Questioning
The investigative panel has invited several persons for questioning, including one male and two females from the school. Also being questioned are three other female students, who are seniors to the deceased. The command’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Kiyawa, assured the public that the findings and recommendations of the panel will be made public once concluded.
“The Kano State Police Command, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, assures the family of the deceased, the school community, and the general public that the investigation will be thorough, impartial, and transparent,” Mr Kiyawa said. “Anyone found culpable will be made to face the full weight of the law, while those exonerated will be cleared accordingly.”
The command urged members of the public, particularly the St. Louis School community, to come forward with any credible information that could aid the investigation, promising strict confidentiality.
