By Social media has gone into a frenzy since news broke out on Wednesday that a 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lekki, identified as Sylvester Oromoni died from multiple injuries after he was reportedly bullied and beaten by fellow students.
A Twitter user with the handle @perrisonoromoni, who claimed to be the boy’s nephew, while narrating his ordeal, revealed that the Junior Secondary School 2 student was attacked for refusing to join a “cult group” in the school.
According to him, the doctor confirmed that the late student had been beaten up, causing internal damages. The deceased was also said to have mentioned a few names of the students who pressured him to join their cult group before he breathed his last.
However, in a statement on Thursday, the school denied all allegations, claiming that Oromoni was neither bullied nor beaten but only complained of hip pain after playing football.
The management noted that the school has effective anti-bullying policies, adding that preliminary investigation showed that there was no reports of fighting, bullying or any form of attack on the boy.
“We immediately commenced investigations and invited the students mentioned for interview. Sylvester’s guardian was also present during some of the investigations. It was revealed that nothing of such happened,” the statement read in part.
Contrary to the school’s claim, a video shared by the boy’s relative on Twitter showed that the 12-year-old was bruised and suffered excruciating pains before his unfortunate demise.
He could be seen in the video groaning in pains while his mother and other caregivers massaged his injured joints and limbs.
Also, the boy’s father, Mr Oromoni told TheCable that his son who he fondly called Junior was fed a liquid “chemical” for refusing to join the group.
Oromoni alleged that the principal frowned at him for releasing the deceased boy’s picture to the press, adding that while he looks forward to an autopsy, Dowen College should make sure justice is served.
He was quoted as saying, “They even released a press statement. Was the principal there when the boy played the said football game? Can they identify who he played with? Where was the housemaster when he was playing it? The woman too is confused. Clearly, she’s trying to protect the school’s image. But a mother of children wants to hide the truth?”
