The late Willvette Angel Nagbe – her untimely death has sparked Controversy

IPNEWS-Monrovia: A recent statement by Ricks Institute in Virginia, Montserrado County regarding the death of their student while on a field trip to Buchanan, Grand Bassa County has been rejected by the late student’s family.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, December 17, 2022, the family categorically debunked the school’s assertion that prior to going on the field trip to Buchanan, student Willvette Angel Nagbe was ill home.

Entrance to Ricks Institute main campus in Virginia, Montserrado County

In a Special Press Statement From Ricks Institute and signed by , Principal, Ricks Institute; the school said: “The President of the Liberia Baptist Missionary & Educational Convention, the Chairman and Board of Trustees, the Administration of Ricks Institute regret to announce the sudden death of Ms. Willvette Angel Nagbe, a student of Ricks Institute. 

Student Nagbe was born on March 27, 2009. She was a 6th-grade Day Student, and not a Boarding Student. Student Willvette Angel Nagbe was thirteen years and eight months. She enrolled at Ricks Institute in the fourth (4th) Grade during the academic year, 2019. 

The President of the Baptist Convention, the Board of Trustees, and the Administration of Ricks Institute deeply regret her death and extend profound condolences to the bereaved family. 

Ricks Institute campus in Virginia, Montserrado County 

It is important to have the public informed that our internal investigation revealed that Student Nagbe was sick at home prior to going on the field trip in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. This information was unknown to the School’s Administration prior to our departure. 

Given the severity of her illness upon our return to Monrovia, the School’s In-House Nurse from Ricks’ Clinic immediately took her to Redemption Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. 

Once again, we profoundly regret the passing of our student.”

But in a contrary statement issued by the late student’s family, it said the school has shown no remorse to the family for the death of their daughter.

“We have received with great dismay a press release purportedly issued by Ricks Institute, dated December 13, 2022, under the signature of Rev. Dr. Enoch David Nyakoon, Principal, Ricks Institute. 

Firstly, the family of Willvette Angel Nagbe (Angel), likes to state for the records, that the said press release was done unilaterally by the institution, without any regard and empathy for the grieving family.  The family would like to enlighten the public about the course of events, which led to the untimely death of Angel. 

The family would like to categorically state that at no time prior to Angel’s demise, was she ill or showed any symptoms of aliment which were noticed or observed by her primary guardian, Madam Nancy Zuahdyu.  It is awful, for Ricks Institute to insinuate that little Angel was ill prior to her trip to Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County. We also like to state that we are unaware of any investigation that was purportedly carried out by the said institution. 

On December 6, 2022, Little Angel informed her secondary guardian, Mr. Prince Nelson of a planned trip of the Ricks Institute Choir, to Buchanan city, Grand Bassa County.  On December 7, 2022, Mr. Nelson received a call from one Mr. David Kallon, who said he was the Dean of Students Affairs of Ricks Institute, requesting the parent’s consent for the Late Angel to be a part of a one-day trip that was slated for Sunday, December 11, 2022. This consent was granted, primarily, because the school had taken its students on several field trips; and this one was no exception. 

Willvette Angel Nagbe, attended all her classes the week prior and also attended Saturday’s classes as required on Saturday, December 10, 2022. At no time did she show any symptoms of illness and neither complained of any aliment to any of her guardians. The assertions of Ricks Institute that Angel was sick prior to making the trip are false, misleading, and lack any truthfulness. 

Angel was dropped off on the Ricks campus at about 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 11, 2022. At about 5:00 p.m. on the same Sunday, December 11, 2022, Madam Nancy Zuahdyu, the primary guardian of Angel called to check in on her, when she was informed by a friend who was also on the trip that Angel was not feeling well. Madam Nancy promptly requested to speak with the supervisor who was assigned to the kids on the bus. Madam Nancy instructed the said supervisor to take Angel to any nearby clinic or hospital and she would be with them once she knows the hospital or clinic. 

Following the first time Madam Nancy placed the call, which is assumed to be around 5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., several other calls were made by Madam Nancy to ascertain how Angel was feeling and whether she has been taken to the hospital as directed. However, of the several calls made, on three (3) times the supervisor answered and spoke with Madam Nancy. After the third call, the supervisor and the bus driver refused to answer the calls coming in to ascertain the health condition of the Late Angel. 

At about 8:00 p.m., on the instant date, Madam Nancy received another call from the friend whoinitially informed her that the Late Angel was ill (not feeling well), informing her that they were at Duala, Market on the Bushrod Island. Madam Nancy immediately proceeded to Brewerville Store, to intercept and or meet the bus halfway, to enable her to take the Late Angel for medication. However, Madam Nancy try stopping the bus at Brewerville Store, but the bus drove off without any regard for Madam Nancy was visibly seen on the main street stopping the bus. 

Madam Nancy and other family members got a motorcycle that chased the bus conveying the students but to no avail. Upon arrival on the Campus, Madam Nancy was again prevented from entering the bus, until all the students disembark the vehicle leaving the Late Angel unconsciously lying in the back seat of the bus. 

It was at this point, Rev. Edwin Dorley, Vice Principal for Student Affairs and Religion, the school nurse, Madam Nancy, and other family members embark on the vehicle of Rev. Edwin Dorley who drove them to the Redemption Hospital in New Kru Town, Bushrod Island.  Upon arrival at the hospital, the health practitioners on duty checked for vital signs, but all vital signs were unresponsive. Willvette Angel Nagbe, was pronounced dead on arrival (DOA), the family was also informed that she had died several hours before her arrival at the hospital. 

Rev. Edwin Dorley, immediately left the hospital scene, under the pretense that he was going to get the Principal, which was later realized to be false and misleading. The unceremonious departure of Rev. Edwin Dorley, after the pronouncement of Willvette Angel Nagbe demise, was disrespectful to the bereaved family. Furthermore, the fabrication that Willvette Angel Nagbe was ill prior to her travel to Grand Bassa County, is absolutely annoying and unacceptable.   

This incident is tragic and unacceptable, Willvette Angel Nagbe, was let down by her school, the ones she spent most part of her days with. The people she was entrusted to mold her mind for a better future. Which she did not have the chance to get because someone decided that it was not a good idea for her to be taken to the nearest hospital or clinic for medical attention when her friends noticed that she was not feeling well, let her down. 

The Family states emphatically, that had Willvette Angel Nagbe, been given the necessary medical attention, she could still be alive and pursuing her dreams and aspiration. However, the people whose custody she was entrusted with decided to act in their best interest rather than hers’. This act of omission by the Ricks Institute authorities is reprehensible. 

We called on the Liberian National Police and the relevant authorities to immediately launch a homicide investigation, concerning the death of Willvette Angel Nagbe.  We request the administration of Ricks Institute to turn over their staffs that were on the bus to the Liberian National Police to begin this probe. Because we are certain that this tragedy could have been aborted had they taken the necessary steps by carrying Willvette Angel Nagbe to the nearest medical facility.”

Sister of the Late Willvette Angel Nagbe of Ricks Institute Speaks Out in Sorrow

Meanwhile, Euphemia F. Reeves, sister of the 14-year-old Ricks Institute 6th grade student, Willvette Angel Nagbe, who recently passed away after a field trip to Buchanan has called on parents, pastors, student leaders and the government to ensure that justice is served for the untimely death of her sister.

In an emotional Facebook post, Reeves stated that her sister served the school as a student in their choir, praise dance, basketball, and kickball teams. She wrote ending each line with a crying emoji: Pastors, didn’t the Bible speak of JUSTICE??

“Mothers and fathers will you rejoice when your child left from home healthy and well and her dead body was brought back to you by the school??😥😥😥😥 

Government of Liberia, will you be happy that a big school in Liberia that cost 1,000USD plus cannot carry a sick child to the hospital while on a trip that the school chose her to partake in knowing very well she was sick and her mother begged you to carry her to hospital and she is on her way to reimburse you????😥😥😥😥 

Student leaders and students of Liberia, will you be pleased that school treats your fellow students the way they did our Angel???😥😥😥😥😥 

Risk Institute killed my Angel😥😥😥 

Risk Institute silent all of the students from speaking😥😥😥😥😥 

Risk Institute instructors that were on the bus off their phones because they said my Mother was giving them hard time about carrying Angel to the hospital”

Meanwhile, the school has expressed its condolence to the family of the deceased.

According to the school, its internal investigation revealed that Student Nagbe was sick at home prior to going on the field trip in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. This information was unknown to the School’s Administration prior to our departure.

“Given the severity of her illness upon our return to Monrovia, the School’s In-House Nurse from Ricks’ Clinic immediately took her to Redemption Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead,” the School indicated in a press statement.

Student Nagbe was born on March 27, 2009. She was a 6th grade Day Student, and not a Boarding Student. Student Willvette Angel Nagbe was thirteen years and eight months. She enrolled at Ricks Institute in the fourth (4th) Grade during academic year, 2019.