More than 100,000 persons have signed two petitions on the Change.org platform, demanding the swift prosecution of all those responsible for the gruesome death of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni, who was a boarding student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos.
The first petition started by a family member of the deceased, Timi Oromoni, titled, ‘Justice For Sylvester Oromoni Jnr’ has attracted over 65,000 as of 1pm on Sunday.
It partly read, “On Tuesday 30/11/2021 we lost our brother 12 years old Sylvester Oromoni Jnr…He was taken from us from in the most gruesome of manner beaten by senior five boys in his hostel in Dowen College lekki Lagos State… The students are from influential families and the school is trying to bury the case.
“Sign and help us find justice for Sylvester Oromoni Jnr. It’s our fight he could be your son , your brother, your cousin. #justiceforsylvester”
Also, the second petition started by The Irede Foundation with the title, ‘We Want Justice For Sylvester’ has attracted over 50,000 signatures as of press time.
It read in part, “We need the police to act immediately and investigate the circumstances and events that led to his death. We’re asking the Lagos Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo and officials of the Lagos State Universal Education Board, and the Federal Ministry of Education to probe allegations of bullying and negligence.
“We’re asking for a thorough and transparent investigation and prosecution of those found to be culpable in this tragic incident.
“Justice must be served and seen to be served for 12-year-old Sylvester and his family.”
It had earlier been reported that the father of the deceased student alleged that the Junior Secondary School 2 pupil died from the injuries he sustained during an assault by colleagues who wanted to initiate him into cultism but the school claimed he died after sustaining an injury during a football match.
The father of the deceased student, Sylvester Oromoni Snr, also fingered five boys whom he said were allegedly involved in the bullying of his son.
The father also said the teachers, security men, and other officials of the school must explain the death of his son, whose 12th birthday was celebrated on December 4 (Saturday), despite his passing.
The Lagos State Government on Friday ordered the indefinite closure of the school, pending the outcome of an investigation into the death of Sylvester.
The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, on Saturday, ordered the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, to take over the investigation of the case immediately.
Sylvester’s is one of the disheartening deaths resulting from bullying and molestations in boarding secondary schools of late.
Karen-Happuch Akpagher of Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja, had died of sexual molestation in June 2021 while Don Davies of Deeper Life High School, Uyo, had also narrowly escaped death in December 2020, when his mother raised the alarm of alleged sodomy of her emaciated son.