Nigerian mother discovers her two-year-old daughter drowned in a London garden bin after leaving her in a stranger's care to visit her hospitalized son

Balikis Adeoye, a Nigerian mother of two, has shared her heartbreak after the tragic death of her two-year-old daughter, Mazeedat, who drowned in a garden bin while in the care of strangers. The incident occurred on January 29, 2022, in Dagenham, London, after Balikis felt forced to leave Mazeedat with people she "didn't know or trust well enough" so she could visit her three-month-old baby undergoing heart surgery. The toddler was later found in a bin containing nine centimeters of water.

At an inquest at East London Coroner’s Court, Balikis explained that she had sought help from Newham Council, asking for a foster placement for Mazeedat, but no arrangements were made. Social workers reportedly advised her to seek help from friends instead, leaving her with no support network. “I struggle to find the words to describe the heartbreak I feel over Mazeedat’s death," Balikis said during the inquest. "She was the most beautiful and happy little girl who brought sunshine to my life... I hope by speaking out, other families don’t have to experience the same pain I will always live with."

The court heard that Balikis, who moved to the UK in March 2021, had been living without a permanent home and was referred to social services months before Mazeedat’s death. At the time, she was classified as an overstayer, unable to access public funds after separating from her UK partner. On the day of the tragedy, Mazeedat was left with carers Balikis barely knew. The toddler was reported missing before being discovered in the garden bin hours later. A post-mortem confirmed drowning as the cause of death.

The inquest concluded that Mazeedat’s death resulted from "gross failure" in supervision, both by those caring for her and by the council. Coroner Graeme Irvine stated that child services missed a critical opportunity to secure appropriate care for Mazeedat, which could have prevented her death.

Newham Council expressed condolences to the family and acknowledged its failures. A spokesperson said, "We were devastated by Mazeedat’s tragic death. Since this incident, we have overhauled our social work practices—a change now recognised by Ofsted, which rates our services as 'Good'." The coroner plans to issue a prevention of future deaths report to address the systemic failures that contributed to the tragedy.