Anthony Iwuoma
Following the controversial death of one of its students, the Lagos State Government on Friday ordered Dowen College, Lekki Phase One, Lagos shut.
The state government also ordered a probe of the tragic incident.
Twelve-year-old Sylvester Oromoni Junior was allegedly beaten to death by some fellow students for refusing to join a cult group.
A relative of the deceased, identified as @Perrisonoromoni on Twitter, said the boy was badly beaten on Friday but died on Tuesday.
According to @Perrisonoromoni, a series of tests and X-rays run on the boy indicated that he sustained internal injuries.
The relative added: “We’re from Delta State, but he goes to a boarding school in Lekki. They called my uncle that his son was injured when he was playing football. Reaching the hospital, it was confirmed that he was being bullied and beaten up, causing internal damages,” the relative disclosed.
“After tests and X-rays, it was confirmed he was beaten up badly. He died yesterday (Tuesday) morning, and his entire body was swollen.
“Before passing, he said they’d been pressuring him to join a cult. He was admitted on Friday. He said they were going to kill him if he talked.”
The deceased’s father said his late son mentioned three names of the students, who pressured him to join their cult group before he died.
However, contrary to the claims of the deceased student’s family, Dowen College in a statement denied that the boy died as a result of a beating by cult members, saying he fell while playing football.
The statement read in part: “It came as no small shock to us to read wild social media tales that he was beaten by some students and that he specifically mentioned some names,” it read.
“We immediately commenced investigations and invited the students allegedly mentioned for interview. His guardian was also present during the interviews, which revealed that nothing of such happened.
“The whole incident was strange and unbelievable because: The school has effective anti-bullying policies and consequences are well spelt out to all the students.
“The preliminary investigation showed that there was no fighting, bullying, or any form of attack on the boy.
“He made no such reports, neither to his sister who is also a student or any other students, prefects, house parents, medical staff, or any of the management staff.
“The school has two regular nurses and a qualified medical doctor that promptly attends to students’ medical needs.
“The resident doctor followed the laid down procedure by inviting his mother to take him home for further treatment after initial treatment by the school’s medical staff.”
The school said as a faith-based college, it vehemently condemns cultism and other social vices.
“The school has a very cordial relationship with the family as he is the fifth child of the family Dowen College has the privilege to train, including his elder sister who is currently a student at the school,” it added.
Wading into the matter, Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo announced the closure of the college in a terse statement by the ministry’s spokesman, Ganiu Lawal.
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.
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“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.”