Panicky parents besiege Dowen Çollege to check on their wards, Lagos education ministry officials begin fact finding as Management denies allegation 12 year-old was killed for refusing to join cultism
Nigerian Police has summoned the management of Dowen College, Lagos, over the alleged murder of a 12 year-old Student, Sylvester Oromoni, by other students suspected by Oromoni to be cultists.
Platforms Africa reports that parents of the deceased have dragged the school over the incident, saying that their son was killed for refusing to join the cult group in the school.
This allegation has been denied by the school management.
In a new video clips of the deceased who was visibly writhing in pain, which surfaced on social media, his parents are seing raining curses on those they accused of inflicting injuries on their son.
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A Police officer from the Maroko police station, Clement Ekere, was, according to a report by Premium Times, at the school to invite the management for questioning at the police station.
This came as panicky parents besieged the school to check on their wards while Lagos education ministry officials also began fact finding.
“Barely 24 hours after the story of the controversial death of Sylvester Oromoni, a student of Dowen College, Lekki, who had allegedly refused to join a cult group went viral on social media, officials of the Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance have visited the school,” the report read.
The spokesman for the police in Lagos State, Adekunle Ajisebutu, a chief superintendent of police, was also said to neither pick many calls to his phone on Thursday and Friday nor reply to messages sent to him.
Some parents assembled within the school compound speaking in hushed voices.
The school officials also refused to speak with our reporter on the matter, and also barred the reporter from joining the government team that was conducted round the school compound.
Dowen College Denies Allegation
The management of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, has, however, denied the allegation that the12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni was tortured to death for refusing to join cultism.
The school in a statement by its Principal, Mrs Adebisi Layiwola, said “the whole incident was strange and unbelievable because the school had effective anti-bullying policies and consequences are well spelt out to all the students. The 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 school has two regular nurses and a qualified medical doctor that promptly attend to students’ medical needs and the resident doctor followed the laid down procedure by inviting his mother to take him home for further treatment after initial treatment by the school’s medical staff.
“On the 21st day of November 2021, one of the Hostel Parents reported to management that the young boy was injured while playing football. The resident registered nurse immediately administered first aid on him and after he expressed relief, was released to return to his hostel room.
“He was in class on Monday 22nd day of November 2021, but during school hours one of his friends accompanied him to the Sick Bay where he complained of some pain in his hip. The doctor examined him and prescribed Ibuprofen for the pain, while the nurse massaged his leg, after which he felt a bit better.
“In accordance with school policy, the resident doctor called his mother reporting the incident and requesting that she come for him so that he could get further medical attention. The mother, however, said she was not in Lagos. She spoke and prayed with him on the phone and promised to send the guardian to pick him up immediately for further medical attention.
“When the guardian failed to show up, the next day on the 23rd of November 2021, the doctor called the mother again and this time, she assured that his guardian would pick him from school. His guardian showed up and took him for X-ray after which the guardian informed the school management that the results of the investigation revealed that no part of his body was broken or injured. The resident doctor also called the mother later in the week to check up on his progress but she informed the doctor that he was sleeping at the time.”
Furthermore, the principal said she also spoke with the mother on the phone to enquire about his progress and she was told that he was having a massage, adding that the boy spoke to him on phone.
The statement continued, “As a result, it came as no small shock to us to read on the social media that he was beaten by some students and that he specifically mentioned some names. We immediately commenced investigations and invited the students allegedly mentioned for interview. His guardian was also present during the interviews, which revealed that nothing of such happened.
“The school has a very cordial relationship with the family as he is the fifth child of the family Dowen College has the privilege to train, including his elder sister who is currently a student at the school.
“Furthermore, we state categorically Dowen College is built on core values of godliness and excellence and will not tolerate any acts of cultism, which is why there is nothing like that and there has never been such deviant activities going on, as this is a faith based school and effective policies are in place to prevent such occurrence.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of this young man who had such a bright future ahead of him. We extend our deepest sympathy and heart-felt condolences to his beloved family, relatives, friends, classmates and the alumni family at this very difficult time.”
