A 36-year-old U.S.-based Nigerian woman, Gbemisola Akayinode, has been arrested and charged after her nine-year-old daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode, died from suffocation inside a locked vehicle in the United State.
According to U.S. authorities, the tragic incident occurred when the mother allegedly left her daughter unattended inside a hot car for several hours. The child was later found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.
Police reports revealed that emergency services were called after bystanders noticed the little girl motionless inside the vehicle. When officers arrived, they found that the car’s temperature had risen dangerously due to the extreme heat.
Investigators said preliminary findings suggest the child may have been left in the car while her mother ran errands. The incident quickly drew attention from local media and child protection services, prompting an immediate investigation.
Akayinode was taken into custody and has since appeared in court, where she faces charges related to child neglect and second-degree murder. Authorities say more charges may follow pending autopsy and forensic reports.
Prosecutors told the court that the child’s death could have been prevented, stressing that “leaving a child in a locked car under high temperatures amounts to fatal negligence.”
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Meanwhile, the Nigerian community in the U.S. has expressed shock and sadness over the incident, describing it as a heartbreaking case of avoidable tragedy.