Results of an autopsy to confirm the allegation are yet to be given.

The classmates of six-year-old Emmanuela Yomta, a Class Two pupil of Government School, Ndogbong, Douala, are still recovering from the shock of her sudden death. Emmanuela died shortly after consuming a frozen mixture of colour, flavour and sugar generally referred to as ‘Alaska.’ According to her teacher, Marcelle Bekalle, who is still grieving, the pupil who attended the afternoon session (from 1 pm), was strong and full of life on the day of the incident. On Friday, November 6, 2015, she was chosen alongside other pupils to keep the class clean.

“When I asked them to look for brooms, she was one of the first to rush out in search of one. It was not long after this that the distress cry of her classmates drew my attention since I left for the Head Teacher’s office while the cleaning was going on. One of the pupils rushed to inform me that Emmanuela was vomiting. I hurried to the scene and after assisting her, I immediately called the mother who came without delay,” she recounted.

The pupil was then rushed to Hôpital des Sœurs de la Cité where medics said she had weak heart beat. But she died shortly after medics gave her first aid. It has not yet been proven whether the ‘Alaska’ she took caused her death. It should be noted that about five other pupils consumed the supposed killer ‘Alaska’ bought from the same seller, but nothing happened to them. While autopsy results are still awaited, the child’s mother blames the school for her daughter’s death.