Lagos shuts Dowen College Lekki, probes Sylvester Oromoni Jnr.’s death

The Lagos State Government has ordered the indefinite closure of Dowen College, Lekki, pending the outcome of an investigation into the death of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni Jnr., a student of the school.

RELIABLESOURCENG.COM gathered that the Commissioner for Education Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo announced the closure after a meeting with the School Management and Staff, on Friday.

The Commissioner called for calm, saying no effort would be spared in getting to the root of the incident.

Oromoni allegedly died from injuries sustained from beating by his fellow students who wanted him to join their secret cult group, according to a revelation by a Twitter user, Perrie, who said the deceased was his cousin.

Ever since, #JusticeForSylvester had been trending on social media, with claims that effort was on to “kill” the incident.

However, the school authority had denied the boy was bullied but said in a statement that he sustained the injury while playing football in the school with his mates.

The government had earlier in a condolence to the family of the deceased student disclosed it was investigating the matter.

A statement on Friday by the spokesman of the Ministry of Education, Ganiu Lawal, said the government was in touch with the parents of the boy.

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The statement read in part: “The Lagos State Government sends its condolences to the parents of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni Jnr., a student of Dowen College, Lekki.

“The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, notes that this incident is shocking and the State is indeed sad about this great loss.

“A delegation comprising top level management of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the Police, has visited the school on a fact-finding mission.

“The State Government is in touch with the parents in this difficult time.

“We reassure the family of the late Sylvester Oromoni Junior and Lagosians at large that efforts are being made to unravel the circumstances leading to his demise, even as we reiterate the Government’s commitment to Child Protection.”

Perrie had taken to the social media few days ago to lament Sylvester’s death.

He said the deceased mentioned some fellow students who beat him up because of his refusal to join a cult group.

The school later came up with a press release denying that such happened in the school.

The management said the boy only sustained injuries while playing football with his colleagues and was promptly treated before being handed over to his family.

There are also claims in the social media that some of the boys mentioned by the deceased have been flown abroad by their families.