Nearly 180,000 persons have signed a petition seeking justice in the case of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, a student of Dowen College who died from internal injuries after being allegedly bullied by his colleagues.
The petition, filed on change.org by Timi Oromoni Fabunmi, a relative of the deceased, has been signed 178,668 times – as of the time of this report.
Dowen College, situated in Lekki, Lagos, has been in the eye of the storm since the demise of the 12-year-old boy.
The student’s father had earlier told journalists that his child was beaten and fed with liquid substance.
But the school dismissed the claim, alleging that he sustained injuries while playing football with his colleagues.
“On 30/11/2021 we lost our brother 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni Jnr. He was a son, grandson, cousin, uncle to his little nieces. He was a friend. He meant everything to us. He was only an innocent child,” the petition read.
“He was taken from us in the most gruesome manner; beaten by senior 5 boys in his hostel in Dowen College Lekki Lagos state. He was tortured by these boys in his school and compelled to be silent. They threatened to kill him.
“This torture and beatings lead to injuries unimaginable and the school authorities without a proper duty of care took his agony at face value and claimed he had a fall playing soccer.
“Without proper investigation or care, they called his parents to pick him up. The family upon seeing their once healthy vibrant child knew these pains and injuries were beyond a domestic fall.
“The child could barely articulate words and move without these heart-wrenching painful sounds.
“Sylvester Jnr reported to the family he did not fall as alleged by the school. He said he was beaten and tortured by 5 senior students and mentioned their names.
“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.”
Hakeem Odumosu, the Lagos state police commissioner, earlier ordered an investigation into Oromoni’s death.
Dowen was also sealed off on Sunday while the police told newsmen on Monday that a probe into the case has begun.
