By Ada Okafor
Over 110,000 persons have signed two petitions on the Change.org platform, demanding a swift prosecution of those responsible for the gruesome murder of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni, who was a boarding student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos.
The first petition instigated by a family member of the deceased, Timi Oromoni, titled, “Justice For Sylvester Oromoni Jnr” has attracted over 65,000 signatures as at 1pm, Sunday.
It read in part: “On Tuesday 30/11/2021 we lost our brother 12 years old Sylvester Oromoni Jnr.
“He was taken from us from in the most gruesome of manner beaten by senior five boys in his hostel in Dowen College lekki Lagos State.
“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. #justiceforsylvester”
The second petition pushed out by The Irede Foundation, with title: “We Want Justice For Sylvester”, has alrradt attracted over 50,000 signatures as at press time, yesterday evening.
It read in part: “We need the police to act immediately and investigate the circumstances and events that led to his death.
“We’re asking the Lagos Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo and officials of the Lagos State Universal Education Board, and the Federal Ministry of Education to probe allegations of bullying and negligence.
“We’re asking for a thorough and transparent investigation and prosecution of those found to be culpable in this tragic incident.
“Justice must be served and seen to be served for 12-year-old Sylvester and his family.”
Recall that the father of the deceased student claimed that the JSS-2 student died from the injuries he sustained during an assault by his fellow students who wanted to initiate him into a cult group, but the school denied the allegations, claiming that he died after sustaining an injury during a football tournament.
The father of the deceased, Sylvester Oromoni Snr, also fingered five boys whom he said were allegedly involved in the bullying of his son.
The Lagos State Government on Friday ordered the indefinite closure of the school, pending the outcome of an investigation into the death of Sylvester.
The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, on Saturday, ordered the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, to take over the investigation of the case immediately..
Also recall that Karen-Happuch Akpagher of Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja, had died of alleged sexual molestation in June 2021, while Don Davies of Deeper Life High School, Uyo, narrowly escaped death in December 2020, when his mother raised the alarm over alleged sodomy on her emaciated son.
