Five students and three staffers of Dowen College now police custody are being quizzed over the death of the 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu,has stated.
At first Odumosu said two other students of the school linked with the assault, were at large, but another police source has confirmed arrest of eight now in police custody helping the Command to determine the cause of the boy’s death.
Oromoni’s death has sparked outrage from many Nigerians, with the Lagos State government announcing the closure and sealing off of the school last week.
The Lagos police boss also said that the school principal, housemasters, and other officials of the Lekki-based school are also assisting the police with information, as the Command launches a full-scale probe into the circumstances culminating in the death of Oromoni on November 30, 2021.
The father of the deceased boarding student had alleged that the JS2 student died from injuries sustained during an assault by five of his colleagues who were hell bent on initiating him into a cult group.
Earlier, Dowen had insisted that Oromoni died after sustaining injuries during a football game.
“It is still an allegation until we conduct our investigation. We just started full investigation Monday.
“Two out of those mentioned in the viral video are at large while three of the students are helping us to get others.
“I am in contact with my counterpart in Delta State. I spoke with the parents yesterday, we are perfecting everything scientifically,” CP Odumosu says.
There are allegations that Oromoni was bullied and beaten to a coma before his death.
Apart from Oromoni’s family petitioning the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, demanding a coroner inquest into his death, it has consulted the services of Femi Falana, SAN to prosecute the case against the school.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has directed the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Akali, to take over the investigation into the death of a secondary school pupil in Lagos, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr.
The House also asked its Committees on Education, Youth Development, Women Affairs and Social Development and Safety to conduct an investigation into the matter and report back to it.
The House condemned reports of ill-humane treatments at boarding schools in Nigeria and resolved that the Federal Ministry of Education should create guidelines for the operation of boarding schools in Nigeria.
The resolution was a sequel to a motion of urgent public importance moved by Unyime Idem (PDP, Akwa Ibom) on Tuesday during plenary.
Moving the motion, Mr Idem said in the aftermath of the death of Master Oromoni, Nigerians have through social media platforms voiced out their ‘bitter experiences’ at boarding schools.
Mr Idem also faulted the Federal Ministries of Women Affairs and Education for their silence over cases of bullying at schools.
The lawmaker also referred to the case of Keren-Happuch, a 14-year-old boarding Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja, who was allegedly raped and subsequently died.
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“If proper measures had been put in place, we will not be having this— there would have been a proper way of monitoring the activities of these children,” he said.
Obinna Chidoka (PDP, Anambra), also said the House must send a strong signal to the world that children matter to the National Assembly.
He, therefore, moved a motion for the IGP to take over the case.
