The Lagos Police Command has announced it has commenced an investigation into the death of Sylvester Oromoni jr, a 12-year-old student of Dowen college in the Lekki area Of Lagos.
Spokesperson to the Lagos Police Command, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, disclosed in a statement that although no formal report had been made to it, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, had ordered the investigation of the death.
In a televised interview, Odumosu added that the command is teaming up with the Delta State Police Command in the investigation to unravel the mystery behind the death of the minor.
The 12-year-old student died on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, after sustaining multiple internal injuries after he was allegedly tortured and bullied by some senior students in the school.
In a viral video, Oromoni jr was seen writhing in pain. His teeth were stained dark red with blood. His legs were swollen, and his belly was bloated.
The Lagos State through its Ministry of Education in response to the incident, ordered an indefinite shutdown of the school after an inquiry visit on Friday, December 3, 2021, pending the outcome of an investigation.
With the series of video evidence in circulation, the Management of Dowen College has released a statement saying they will cooperate with authorities to dig deep into the matter.
The college had, however, in a press statement that went viral earlier on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, denied all allegations stating that Oromoni was neither bullied nor beaten but only complained of hip pain after playing football.
The child’s father, who bears the same name as the student, stated that contrary to what Dowen College had said in the statement, the family friend who they sent to pick up Oromoni Jnr. from the school described a totally different situation.
In reaction to the overwhelming events, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, in a statement on Saturday, December 4, 2021, promised full support to the Lagos State Government as investigations are carried out to unravel the cause of Sylvester’s death, who happens to be a native of Warri South LGA in Delta State.
Meanwhile, the demand for justice has seen the initiation of the hashtag ‘#JusticeforSylvester’ on social media platforms.
