Lagos State Ministry of Education has said it would unravel what led to the death of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, a 12 year old pupil of Dowen College, Lekki who died under allegedly controversial circumstances on Tuesday.
This comes as the school closed today following the family’s claims that the boy died as a result of injuries he got from being beaten by fellow pupils in the school forcing him to join a cult.
The school however claimed he was injured while playing football.
In a statement by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Ganiu Lawal, the Education Commissioner, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo commiserated with his family.
The statement also noted that she visited the school with a team from the ministry on Friday to investigate the incident.
“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.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Sylvester Oromoni Junior was indeed enrolled as a student of Dowen College in its boarding facility and had been treated by the school’s medical personnel before the school requested that the parents take him away for further care.
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.”
Sylvester’s mysterious death has elicited flurry of reactions especially from sympathisers, family members and social media users.
Junior as he was fondly called, was the last born and would have clocked 13-year-old on December 4.
In the now-viral video, he was seen excruciating in pains with his teeth stained with blood.
Junior’s nephew, Perry Oromoni @Perrisonoromoni had alleged on social media that the deceased was attacked for refusing to join a “cult group” dominated by older boys in the school.
But reacting, Dowen College debunked the claims that he was tortured to death for refusing to join a cult group.
It denied claims on the social media that Sylvester died as a result of complications that arose from being beaten by alleged cultists in the school.
The principal, Mrs. Adebisi Layiwola, in a statement, noted that the 12-year old, the fifth to attend the school in his family, allegedly injured himself while playing football on November 21 and was treated by the school nurse. When he did not get better, his mother was contacted to come and pick him, which she eventually did on November 23.
The school also noted that its investigations into claims that he was bullied by some pupils of the school to join a cult group had not thrown up evidence that such happened.
The statement reads: “On the 21st day of November 2021, one of the hostel parents reported to management that the young boy was injured while playing football. The resident registered nurse immediately administered first aid on him and after he expressed relief, was released to return to his hostel room.”
The statement added: “When the guardian failed to show up, the next day on the 23rd of November 2021, the doctor called the mother again and this time, she assured that his guardian would pick him from school. His guardian showed up and took him for X-ray after which the guardian informed the school management that the results of the investigation revealed that no part of his body was broken or injured.
“It came as no small shock to us to read on the social media that he was beaten by some students and that he specifically mentioned some names. We immediately commenced investigations and invited the students allegedly mentioned for interview.”
“The preliminary investigation showed that there was no fighting, bullying or any form of attack on the boy.
“He made no such reports, neither his sister who is also a student or any other students, prefects, house parents, medical staff or any of the management staff.”
It stated that one of the school’s hostel officials had informed the management on November 21 that Junior was injured while playing football with his colleagues.
The school stated that Junior was given first aid by a resident nurse and returned to his hostel after he expressed relief but started complaining of pain in his hip the next day and was again attended to by the resident doctor at the school’s sickbay.
The school said the doctor later called the student’s mother to inform her of the situation and also asked her to pick him up for further medical treatment.
The school explained that after an initial delay, the student’s mother eventually sent a guardian to pick him up and subsequently took him for an x-ray.
“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 principal, Mrs. Adebisi Layiwola, said in a statement.
It was learnt that officials of the Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance, had visited the school.
Also an autopsy is being awaited, and the school has commenced full investigation into the matter.
The family has also petitioned the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, on December 2.
It was learnt that another petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) will follow on December 6 for a full probe.
It was also gathered that the school has been shut down for two days — Friday 3rd and Monday 6th — respectively due to the heightened emotions.
In the mail sent to parents, the management noted that the short break will afford the students opportunity to revise for their forthcoming examinations next week.
The Nation
