…Over 100,000 Sign Petition, Demand Swift Prosecution Of Culprits
…Don’t Allow Five Students Accused Of Bullying Oromoni Entry, NANS Tells Foreign Missions
…As Dowen College Commiserates With Oromoni’s Family, Commits To Thorough Investigation
The Lagos State Government has sealed off Dowen College in the Lekki area of the state over the gruesome death of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni.
It was gathered that the school was sealed off on Sunday by officials of the state government.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho, confirmed the development on Sunday.
Recall that the father of the deceased boarding student alleged that the Junior Secondary School 2 pupil died from the injuries he sustained during an assault by colleagues who wanted to initiate him into cultism but the school claimed he died after sustaining an injury during a football match.
The father of the deceased student, Sylvester Oromoni Snr, also fingered five boys whom he said were allegedly involved in the bullying of his son.
The father also said the teachers, security men, and other officials of the school must explain the death of his son, whose 12th birthday was December 4 (Saturday).
The Lagos State Government on Friday ordered the indefinite closure of the school, pending the outcome of an investigation into the death of Sylvester.
The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, on Saturday, ordered the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, to take over investigation of the case immediately.
Sylvester’s death is one of the disheartening deaths resulting from bullying and molestations in boarding secondary schools of late.
Karen-Happuch Akpagher of Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja, had died of sexual molestation in June 2021 while Don Davies of Deeper Life High School, Uyo, had also narrowly escaped death in December 2020, when his mother raised the alarm of alleged sodomy of her emaciated son.
Meanwhile, over 100,000 persons have signed two petitions on the Change.org platform, demanding the swift prosecution of all those responsible for the gruesome death of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni, who was a boarding student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos.
The first petition started by a family member of the deceased, Timi Oromoni, titled, ‘Justice For Sylvester Oromoni Jnr’ has attracted over 65,000 as of 1pm on Sunday.
It partly read, “On Tuesday 30/11/2021 we lost our brother 12 years old Sylvester Oromoni Jnr…He was taken from us from in the most gruesome of manner beaten by senior five boys in his hostel in Dowen College lekki Lagos State… The students are from influential families and the school is trying to bury the case.
“Sign and help us find justice for Sylvester Oromoni Jnr. It’s our fight he could be your son , your brother, your cousin. #justiceforsylvester”
Also, the second petition started by The Irede Foundation with the title, ‘We Want Justice For Sylvester’ has attracted over 50,000 signatures as of press time.
It read in part, “We need the police to act immediately and investigate the circumstances and events that led to his death. We’re asking the Lagos Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo and officials of the Lagos State Universal Education Board, and the Federal Ministry of Education to probe allegations of bullying and negligence.
“We’re asking for a thorough and transparent investigation and prosecution of those found to be culpable in this tragic incident.
“Justice must be served and seen to be served for 12-year-old Sylvester and his family.”
In the same vein, the Board and Management of Dowen College, Lagos, have broken their silence over reports that had emerged which stated that one of their students, Sylvester Oromoni, was bullied and beaten by fellow students. Days later, the supposed injuries from the beating led to the student’s death.
Ever since reports of the incident surfaced online, Nigerians have expressed their outrage over the development and it has led to the indefinite closure of the school. Moreso, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incidence.
Speaking about the death of the student, Dowen College, via a press statement released on its Instagram page, @dowencollegelagos, commiserated with the Sylvester Oromoni family.
The statement, which was signed by the Board and Management of Dowen College, was titled, ‘Dowen College speaks: Commiserates with Sylvester Oromoni’s family’.
It read, “Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of one of our beloved students, Sylvester Oromoni Jr. He was dearly loved by his teachers; fellow students and he was a beacon of light for the school.
“The tragic unfortunate incident which transpired this past November, and Sylvester’s untimely death requires thorough and proper investigation. Dowen College is fully committed to this. We are assisting the authorities to get to the bottom of this heart-breaking incident. The first step taken by the school, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, has been the immediate closure of the school to aid the investigation.
“Understandably, at this time of intense grief and suffering, emotions are raw and tensions are high. We pray that God, who alone knows how to comfort the sorrowing, will comfort Sylvester’s family and all those who loved and knew him.
“We commiserate with the Oromoni family and the students of Dowen College who have lost a friend and fellow student. This is a traumatic experience. We assure our parents that the school is taking steps to ensure the safety and security of their children and wards. This is paramount. Every child is valued at Dowen College and their health and well-being is of utmost priority to the school.”
In the meantime, the National Association of Nigerian Students on Sunday alerted foreign missions to deny entry to the five students of Dowen College alleged to have bullied and beaten 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni to a point of coma which led to his eventual death on November 30, 2021.
The students’ body also called for the swift arrest of key officials of the Lekki-based school.
NANS President stated this in a statement on Sunday titled, ‘Sylvester Oromoni’s Death:
NANS calls for immediate arrest of school principal, house master…urges foreign missions in Nigeria to ensure suspects do not sneak foreign into their countries’.
Reacting in its statement, NANS said, “We equally call for the immediate arrest and interrogations of names of students mentioned in the attack that led to the eventual death of Sylvester irrespective of how highly placed their parents are. There must not be any sacred cow as all of them must be arrested, adequately interrogated, and charged if found culpable.
By this press statement, we put on red alert foreign missions in Nigeria to deny entry to the following students who had been fingered in the attack leading to the death of Sylvester Oromoni until the investigation is concluded.”
“NANS will follow this case religiously in our attempt to be the voice of the voiceless and ensure a level playing ground at the cause of the investigation irrespective of how influential and wealthy the families of the purported culprits are,” the statement concluded.
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