Following the death of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, a 12-year-old student at Dowen College, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Investigative Committee has urged Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to suspend Dowen College’s operating license to send a clear message to careless institutions.
In a statement issued by Comrade Oladimeji Uthman, Chairman, NANS Investigative Committee, the students’ group expressed condolences to the late Oromoni’s family while also demanding a comprehensive inquiry into what led to the boy’s death in order to bring the perpetrators to justice.
As seen by InsightnaijaTV, Sylvester’s cousin, Perry Oromoni, took to social media to claim that some senior college students assaulted him in his hostel room for refusing to join a cult.
The statement read: “We have read on various platforms quoting the principal of the college as having said that lectures would go on online. We urge the state government to halt such plans and suspend the operating license of Dowen College to send a clear signal to careless institutions who emphasize their businesses to the utter exclusion of the lives of the future leaders in their care.
“It is quite unfortunate that despite our sensitization, re-orientation and efforts to reduce cultism in our tertiary institutions, such evil acts could be carried out by secondary school students. This is saddening and a note of warning for all stakeholders in the education sector to do what is needed to ensure the eradication of cultism in our basic and secondary institutions.
“It is more annoying that the school denied all allegations stating that Oromoni was neither bullied nor beaten but only complained of injuries after playing football.
“But, the findings conducted by NANS Investigative Committee appointed by the national leadership of NANS revealed that truly the child was bullied and tortured which had led to this avoidable untimely death.
“NANS demands a holistic justice type that will bring to book the killers of Oromoni and members of the school management, who instead of speaking the truth, soiled their souls by trying desperately to cover up the evil deeds.
“NANS under the leadership of Comrade Sunday Asefon, will not rest until we see to the arrest of the principal of the school, students mentioned, and staff involved in the alleged attempt to change the narrative that led to the death.
“While we thank and commend the Lagos State Government for its speedy initiative towards shutting down the Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos State, we also want to use this medium to call on the Commissioner of Police in the state to launch a meticulous investigation into the death of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr.
“NANS also appeal to the police and other security agencies to be professional and not to be deterred by the massive influence behind the school.”
