Down College Shut over Death of 12-year-old Student

Femi Ashekun/

Dowen College in Lekki, Lagos State has been shut following the controversial death of a 12-year-old male student, Sylvester Oromoni.

Oromoni allegedly died as a result of injuries he sustained from being tortured by some fellow students for refusing to join a cult group in the school.

The school, in a statement today, said the school will be closed for two days over the unfortunate development.

The statement reads, “In view of the situation concerning the school and considering the emotions of our students we have advised that our students stay home tomorrow Friday 3rd and Monday 6th December 2021.

“This will also afford the students opportunity to revise for their forthcoming examination starting next week.”

Oromoni’s death became public after a family member, who claimed to be the deceased’s cousin, posted about the incident on social media, yesterday.

The family member, identified as Perris Onoromoni, alleged that the Junior Secondary School 2 died from internal injuries he suffered after being assaulted by fellow students who wanted to initiate him into cultism.

He stated this before his cousin died, he mentioned the names of five fellow students who brutalised him for refusing to join a cult.

But Dowen College, in a statement by its principal, Mrs. Adebisi Layiwola, denied there was any form of attack on the student.

“The whole incident is strange and unbelievable because the school had effective anti-bullying policies and consequences are well spelt out to all the students,” the statement reads.

According to the school, preliminary investigation showed that there was no fighting, bullying or any form of attack on the boy.

“He made no such reports, neither his sister who is also a student or any other students, prefects, house parents, medical staff or any of the management staff,” the statement adds.

Late Sylvester’s father, Sylvester Oromoni Snr, however, faulted the claim by the school, insisting his son was allegedly bullied, which led to his death.

In an interview with TheCable, he stated, “The boys (suspects) they mentioned were also reported to the school last term when they bullied Junior (Sylvester) and collected all his foodstuffs and clothes.

“I have two daughters; one of whom earlier graduated. I had to remove the second after this incident. They asked this boy to describe the sister’s privates and this got to us.

“They put fear in him so much so that, when you ask him, he might keep to himself and say, ‘they will kill me’.

“This way, we didn’t know what to do. I considered removing him; reconsidered since his sisters were still in the school.

“The new incident came to my knowledge on November 21 after the school called my wife to notify us that our son was in the school clinic, injured.

“My senior son, who was to make a London trip, came to see us in Warri.

“The next day, we sent a family friend to help pick up our son since he was the only person in Lagos and take him to the hospital.

“When he got there, he panicked, pointing out that he doubts it’s a football injury as the school claimed. He said the boy couldn’t stand because his waist was bent and swollen along with one side of his belly.

“His mouth was black. I asked, ‘is this really a football injury?’ He was taken to my house in Lagos but couldn’t sleep at night.

“I asked my eldest to fly to Lagos on November 24, while I took a trip to Asaba, from where I’d also make for Lagos.

“On getting there, he screamed. ‘This is beyond football injury. Come to Lagos now,’ he told me over the phone.”

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