The family of Maimuna Salisu, a 13-year-old junior secondary school student at St. Louis Secondary School in Kano, says she was killed by senior students who flogged and forced her to kneel for refusing to sweep. The police are now investigating.

Maimuna died on 13 June. The school told her parents she had an asthma attack after arriving late to the mosque. But the family says that's not the full story.

In a petition submitted to the police on 17 June by her mother's lawyers, Nakudu Law Partners, the family alleges that senior students punished Maimuna for refusing to sweep. The punishment included flogging and prolonged kneeling, which the family says worsened her underlying medical condition.

School authorities first called Maimuna's parents at about 7:20 p.m. on 13 June, saying she had fallen ill and was taken to the International Clinic in Kano. Her elder sister arrived at the hospital at about 8:19 p.m. and was told by the doctor that Maimuna was already dead. Her remains were buried the next day, 14 June, according to Islamic rites.

The conflicting accounts — asthma attack versus punishment — prompted the family to demand a proper investigation.

The Kano State Police Command has taken the case seriously. Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Bakori ordered that the investigation be handled with strict transparency and human rights compliance.

A Special Investigation Panel (SIP) has been set up, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Shehu Idris, who heads the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Officials from the Kano State Ministry of Justice have also been included to ensure legal oversight.

The panel has invited several people for questioning: one male and two female staff members from the school, plus three female students who are seniors to Maimuna.

Police spokesperson Abdullahi Kiyawa assured the public that the findings will be made public once the investigation is complete.

"The Kano State Police Command, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, assures the family of the deceased, the school community, and the general public that the investigation will be thorough, impartial, and transparent," Mr Kiyawa said.

He added: "Anyone found culpable will be made to face the full weight of the law, while those exonerated will be cleared accordingly."

The police have also called on anyone with credible information about the incident to come forward, promising strict confidentiality.

This case has stirred anger in Kano, where corporal punishment in schools — though officially banned — is still widely practiced. The death of a 13-year-old over a sweeping duty has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of the ban and better oversight of boarding schools.

For now, the family waits. They want answers. They want justice. And they want to know exactly what happened to Maimuna in her final hours.