IYC, on Thursday, staged a protest in front of Dowen College saying it could not resume like others when justice was yet to be served
The legal advice issued by the Lagos State Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), clearing five students and staff of Dowen College of any wrongdoing in the death of Sylvestre Oromoni, has elicited an angry reaction.
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), an umbrella body of Ijaw people, said they would occupy Dowen College with their food flasks and water bottles should the school open on Monday, January 10, without justice first being served on those who murdered the 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni.
The 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lekki, was beaten and later died of lung injuries, allegedly by five students, who also allegedly fed him with engine oil.
Members of the IYC, on Thursday, staged a protest in front of Dowen College saying the school could not resume like others when justice was yet to be served, according to a report by Sahara Reporters.
The IYC condemned the legal advice issued by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, Adetutu Osinusi, clearing staff and students of Dowen College of complicity in the death of the young man.
The DPP had issued legal advice which stated that police investigation and the two autopsies conducted on the body of the deceased failed to establish a prima facie case against the suspects — five students and five staff of the college.
But reacting, the IYC leaders said any attempt to open Down College would be strongly resisted while promising to invade the school with their school bags and food flasks.
One of the IYC leaders said: “We are here (Dowen College) today to express our anger and grievances with the fake and corrupt report released by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution that this school where cultists are being trained is cleared. They cleared the same people that killed our son without trial, without concluded investigation; they said they cleared this school to open.
“If they open this school, the whole Ijaw nation will come here, let them try it and see, if they open this school on Monday, the whole Ijaw nation will come, we will come with our school bags, feeding bottles and join them here. Let them bring armoured tanks here, we have the capacity.
“If they refuse to give us justice, this school will not be opened, we want to send a message to the governor of this state; I believe he is a well-trained person, if he supports injustice, then this school will not have peace.
“Nobody can stop us when this thing happened, we said okay, we want justice, we folded our hands, this is the first time in the whole world we heard that before an investigation is concluded, before a case got to court, all of a sudden, during the holiday, they tried the case in their houses and cleared them.
“Our son cannot die and their children will walk in here, it’s not possible, we want justice.”