Dowen College: 3 students in Police net over Sylvester’s death

 

.Reps ask IGP to takeover Investigation

.Parents demand change of school mgt, installation of CCT cameras

 

Jonas Ezieke, Abuja

 

Three students of Dowen College, Lekki where a 12- year-old student, Sylvester Oromoni was allegedly bullied to death for refusing to join a cult group are in the custody of the state police command.

 

The state commissioner of police, Hakeem Odumosu confirmed this during a tv show on Tuesday and described the students in custody and two others as ‘prime suspects.”

 

It was however still unclear, while the two other students did not appear for the police investigations on Monday.

 

The source gathered that the police invited the management of the school and the five students, who were mentioned by the deceases Sylvester for questioning on Monday.

 

The police boss also stated that the command is working with its counterpart in Delta to conduct a post mortem on the body of the deceased student.

 

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Tuesday condemned the recent incidences of inhumane treatment and abuses of students happening in many boarding schools across Nigeria and mandated its relevant Committees on Education, Youths Development and Women Affairs to investigate the matter to find solution.

 

This condemnation was sequel to the adoption of a motion by a member of the House Hon.Idem Uyinme (Akwa-Ibom,PDP) on the matter at plenary.

 

The lawmaker expressed concern that bullying and other forms of maltreatment has become an ugly trend in the nation’s boarding schools.

 

According to him there were several incidences of killings and abnormal behaviours in boarding schools across the country that were not investigated by relevant authorities.

 

Uyinme said that the recent incident in a private school in Lagos that led to the death of a twelve year old student makes it compulsory for the federal government to launch a national campaign to stop the ugly trend.

 

He said: “The national campaign should include advocacy, public sensitization and social mobilization, as it will take the joint effort of government, school management and parents to curb ugly happenings in our boarding schools”.

 

 

Contributing to the debate, a member from Anambra State, Hon.Obinna Chidoka stressed the need for the parlianent to mandate the Inspector-General of Police IGP to investigate cases of abuses and molestation in boarding schools across the country and punish the culprits.

 

Similarly, a member from Lagos state, Hon.Ibrahim Obanikoro, in whose constituency the latest bullying at Bowen School took place, said the newly created safety standards committee on education should conduct a review of safety regulations and guidelines in public schools.

 

Also in a contribution, Hon. Kolade Akinjo from Ondo State said that the regulatory agencies should be up and doing in their responsibilities of regulating the activities of private schools in the country.

 

Consequently, the House presided by the Deputy Speaker Hon.Ahmed Idris Wase unanimously adopted the motion with a voice vote.

 

While adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Education to set up guidelines for the operations of boarding schools across the country.

 

It further mandated the IGP to take over the investigation, prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators of the identified heinous crimes.

 

The green chamber also mandated its relevant Committees on Education, Youth Development, Women Affairs and Social Development to follow up with the investigation.

 

Also, the Parents of students of Dowen College Lekki in Lagos State on Tuesday added their voices to the global lamentations over the killing of a student of the College, Sylvester Oromoni, insisting on justice.

 

The parents who said that “justice for Sylvester is justice for all” insisted that whoever was responsible or might have contributed in the death of the 12-year-old Sylvester must be brought to book.

 

“This will not only bring this unfortunate incident to a closure for the family, but will also serve as deterrent to other juvenile delinquents in all schools in Nigeria,” the Dowen College Parents said.

 

The aggrieved parents also called for a change of the school management and hostel teachers, installation of Closed Circuit Television cameras in all strategic places and overhauling of the school security system.

 

Sylvester died from injuries he sustained after he was brutalized by senior students of the College.

 

Police on Tuesday disclosed that three out of five of the alleged culprits have been arrested with two still at large.

 

On Tuesday, the parents under the auspices of Dowen College Parents’ Forum bemoaned the tragedy while urging “the school management team and other stakeholders to fully cooperate with the authority in the ongoing investigation.”

 

The parents said they will organise a candle light on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 by 6 pm at Dowen College, 18, Adebayo Doherty Road, Lekki, Lagos State.

 

“The  lighting of candles is to pay tribute to a life ‘passed’, and keeping the light burning signifies that the memory still lives on and burns bright,” they said.

 

The statement which was signed by Aituaz Kola-Oladejo, Waheed Adeoye, Oluwaseun Bolanle Ajila and Kingsley Kema Agu on behalf of the Dowen College Parents’ Forum reads:

 

“Dowen College parents are startled and deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident that led to the death of Sylvester Oromoni. Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased and pray God to give them the strength to bear the irreparable loss.

 

“As parents of Dowen College students, we are still in shock and could not come to terms with this incident and the accounts so far provided by the school management, students and the media.

 

“We are, however, temporarily relieved by the swiftness with which the authorities intervened and commenced investigation towards unravelling the cause of Sylvester Oromoni’s death.

 

“We urge the school management team and other stakeholders to fully cooperate with the authority in the ongoing investigation. While we would have loved to bring Sylvester back, if humanly possible, unravelling the cause of his death and bringing whoever was responsible or might have contributed in whatever way to book, will not only bring this unfortunate incident to a closure for the family, but will also serve as deterrent to other juvenile delinquents in all schools in Nigeria.

 

“We, therefore, say justice for Sylvester is justice for all.

 

“On our part as parents, we will work more closely with the school (management/board) to ensure that necessary measures are put in place to prevent recurrence of this unfortunate incident and stamp out bullying in any form from the school.

 

“We will also continue to appeal to parents, through all available means, to show more interest in what their children do and who they associate with in school and at home.

 

“We appeal to the public to see this incident as an inflection point, not only for Dowen College but also other schools in Nigeria, as recent events have shown that bullying, molestation and other vices among students are common in our schools.

 

“Therefore, we rely on the authorities for justice regardless of the social status of whoever is involved.

 

“Dowen College parents need this more, as we are currently in a fix and our children traumatised.

 

“What happened to Sylvester could have happened to any other child in the school. To many of the traumatised students, Sylvester was a classmate, a roommate, a schoolmate or a friend.

 

“We, therefore, earnestly ask for a resolution that will bring some relief to the bereaved family, other parents, students of Dowen College and the public. These should include a change of the school management and hostel teachers, installation of Closed Circuit Television cameras in all strategic places and overhauling of the school security system.

 

“The Parents’ Forum is organising a candle light on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 by 6pm at Dowen College, 18, Adebayo Doherty Road, Lekki, Lagos State.

 

“The  lighting of candles is to pay tribute to a life ‘passed’, and keeping the light burning signifies that the memory still lives on and burns bright.

 

“The candle light, no doubt, shall promote reflection and signifies remembrance of a life cut short in its infancy.

 

“We pray the Almighty God to comfort the Oromoni family during this trying period.”