Kano police set up special panel over tragic death of St. Louis JSS2 boarding student
The Kano State Police Command has launched a full-scale, high-level investigation into the controversial death of Maimuna Sani Salisu, a 13-year-old JSS 2 boarding student of St. Louis Secondary School, Kano.
The investigation follows a formal petition submitted to the police by Nakudu Law Partners, solicitors to the deceased’s mother, Mrs. Nusaiba Rabiu Dan Sheriff, which raised serious allegations of foul play, corporal punishment, and conflicting narratives regarding the girl’s death.
In response, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has constituted a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), DCP Shehu Idris, alongside officials from the Kano State Ministry of Justice.
Conflicting Accounts: Asthma attack vs. bullying and flogging
According to the family’s petition dated June 17, 2026, the school authorities contacted Maimuna’s parents on June 13, 2026, at approximately 7:20 pm, informing them that their daughter was ill and had been rushed to International Clinic, Kano.
The deceased’s elder sister was immediately dispatched to the hospital, arriving around 8:19 pm, where the attending doctor informed her that Maimuna had already been confirmed dead. The 13-year-old was subsequently buried on June 14, 2026, in accordance with Islamic rites.
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However, the family is demanding accountability due to stark discrepancies in how Maimuna died.
The school authorities initially claimed that Maimuna suffered and succumbed to a severe asthma attack after being late to the mosque.
The family however states they have received separate testimonies alleging that Maimuna was subjected to severe corporate punishment by senior students.
The senior students reportedly flogged her and forced her into prolonged kneeling for refusing to sweep, an ordeal that allegedly worsened her health condition and led to her death.
Teachers, senior students detained for questioning
Spokesperson for the Kano State Police Command, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed in a statement on Thursday that the SIP has swung into action and commenced preliminary inquiries.
Several individuals have already been formally invited and are currently cooperating with the panel. They include three teachers, one male and two females from St. Louis Secondary School; three senior students, all females, who are suspected of involvement in the alleged punishment; and two other witnesses, females believed to possess vital information regarding the incident.
“Statements have been obtained, and medical, forensic, and other evidentiary processes are ongoing to establish the exact cause of death and the circumstances surrounding it,” CSP Kiyawa stated.
The Police Command assured the grieving family, the school community, and the general public that the joint investigation with the Ministry of Justice will be handled with utmost diligence, transparency, and strict adherence to human rights.
“Anyone found culpable will be made to 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,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Command has appealed to members of the public and the school community to volunteer any credible, confidential information that could assist the panel. CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori also extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Maimuna Sani Salisu, praying for her soul to rest in peace.
