A three-year-old girl, identified as Sonia Emmanuel, has reportedly drowned in a mini water container at her home in the Mpape area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The incident occurred on Tuesday, 4th March, around 4:00 p.m.
It was learnt that Sonia’s mother, Etalong Marina, was at the market, while the toddler had been attempting to fetch water when she accidentally fell into the container.
Sources noted that her uncle, Idu Simon, reported the incident to the Mpape Police Division at about 6:30 p.m. The child was rushed to Jarel Hospital, where medical personnel confirmed her death.
Confirming the incident, the FCT Police Command Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, in a statement on Tuesday stated that preliminary investigations showed that the girl had been left at home with a 10-year-old child when the accident happened.
She said the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to take over the case for a thorough investigation.
“The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command is currently investigating a case of negligence involving a mother who is presently in custody. Preliminary investigations revealed that the mother of the three-year-old left her at home with a 10-year-old child. The three-year-old, while trying to fetch water from a mini water rubber, fell in and tragically drowned,” the police statement said.
“The Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Olatunji Disu, psc, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to take over the case for a thorough investigation. The matter will subsequently be forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
“CP Disu strongly advises parents and guardians to take full responsibility for the safety and well-being of their children. He emphasizes that children should never be left without proper adult supervision, as such negligence can lead to unfortunate and preventable incidents.”
