- Dowen College parents demand for justice regardless of the social status of whoever is involved in the death of Sylvester Oromoni
By Emma Ogbuehi
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.
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.”
