The Principal of Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, Anambra State, Rev Canon Anieto Chigozie, has described the stoning to death of a first year Junior Secondary School (JSS 1) student of the school, Master Chukwuebuka Nnanna, as unfortunate.

He explained that what happened may be purely an accident and not an intentional action as the deceased was neither stabbed, flogged to death nor fell from any height.

The principal, in a statement, wondered why people were insinuating that the student was killed out of envy saying that he had only spent one term in the school to be a source of envy.

His rhetorically: “How can a fellow student be envious of a JSS1 student who has stayed just a term? Is it really possible?”

Continuing, Rev Canon Chigozie said: “The incident took place on Tuesday, February 12, 2019. We had two events in the school that day: Termly Clinical Evaluation and Provincial Quiz.

“The students had eaten and it was time for sports in preparation for the Inter-house Sports. Other students had gone out for sports and they were playing just in front of the Obijackson Hostel with a mock ball.”

The principal said that from the information the school authority got from students, the boy slumped after being hit by a stone and they took him to the Sick Bay but when the staff nurse there could not handle the case, the boy was rushed to the General Hospital where he was confirmed dead.

He added: “We called the father’s number severally and it was switched off. We had to send a staff who knows where his shop was. And she got another number from them there. He was contacted and before he came, we took the child to Iyienu Hospital where he was also confirmed dead.

“We have given our report to the appropriate authorities in charge of education both in the Anambra State government and the Church Diocese.

“We are in touch with the family. We are still seriously investigating the matter with the view of finding out who threw the stone.”

According to the principal, the matter is still being investigated as no student has owned up to the crime.

He called for prayers for the repose of the soul of the young Dengramite Chukwuebuka and for the family to also be consoled.

“Keep praying for us. We trust that we will come out of this challenge,” Rev Canon Chigozie said.

Efforts by News Express to reach the deceased student’s father failed as his telephone lines were not available several times it was called.