Nigerian Woman Whose Teenage Boy Died On School Trip In UK Says No Answer Has Been Given By Police

Taiwo Oluwagbenga, the mother of 17-year-old Samuel, who tragically died during a school trip after struggling in the sea, is still looking for answers. She alleges that the authorities have not provided her with any details about her son's death.

Tragedy struck at the beginning of July when 17-year-old Samuel Oluwagbenga, on a school trip with 49 fellow students from Uxbridge College to West Wittering, a seaside village in West Sussex, lost his life. 

After being spotted struggling in the water around lunchtime, lifeguards quickly responded on jetskis and rushed him to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester via air ambulance, where he sadly succumbed to his distress shortly after arrival.

“Nobody has given me any answers. We are yet to get an update from the school,” the deceased’s mother, Taiwo, told Sky News.

She continued “My son went and he didn't come back. Fifty children went and only my son didn't come back.”

Samuel had only been in the UK for a year but had adapted quickly. He was making friends at school, attending church every weekend and was a futsal coach in his spare time.

He was good at IT and wanted to study the subject at university, even using his skills to help out at his Sunday church group.

Taiwo continued: “Samuel looked after me, he didn't allow me to suffer.”

She added: “Despite being a single mother, Samuel never let me feel like I was alone. He supported me throughout.

“He would cook for me, drop his brother to school, I have asthma and Samuel would always check if I was okay and when he would notice I was struggling to speak, he would go to the fridge to bring me my inhaler.”

At least three teenagers also sustained injuries on Wednesday night after being shot in south-east London, United Kingdom. 

This was confirmed by UK Metropolitan Police, saying its personnel were called at around 10pm to reports that a man had been shot in Otlinge Road, Orpington. 

The police drove to the scene along with the London Ambulance Service who treated an 18-year-old man before taking him to hospital, according to the force.

Two further victims, both boys aged 14, were found with gunshot wounds while officers conducted a search of the area and were taken to hospital.

Following inquiries, police said they established that the shooting had taken place at Yalding Grove nearby.

The three teenagers’ injuries are non-life changing and non-life threatening, the force added.

On Thursday morning, police said a crime scene remained in place and that inquiries are ongoing.

Detective Inspector, Raymond Sekalongo, from specialist crime Trident investigation team said: “Tackling violent crime in London remains our absolute focus and reducing shootings is key to that.