Dowen College: Nollywood stars, Mercy Johnson, Tonto Dikeh, others demand justice for Sylvester Oromoni

By VICTORIA EDEME

The death of a 12-year-old student, Sylvester Oromoni, of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos has sparked agitations from Nigerian celebrities, as they demand justice for the child.

Reports had emerged that Oromoni was bullied and beaten by fellow students. The supposed injuries from the beating led to his death, according to a Twitter user with the handle @perrisonoromoni, who claimed to be the boy’s cousin.

However, in a statement on Wednesday, the school denied all allegations stating that Oromoni was neither bullied nor beaten but only complained of hip pain after playing football.

Contrary to the school’s statement, the victim’s cousin rolled out photos and video evidence, which corroborates the fact that the child was bullied and beaten; an activity that led to his death.

Reacting to the incident, Tonto Dikeh said, “Dear Dowen College, I have been informed. I’m just gathering all the facts and history of this misfortune together then we will talk. Don’t go nowhere. Our children can’t go to school to be great and end up 6feet below. God forbid. That’s not why we trust schools.”

“I could not bring myself to post the video, I haven’t even been able to watch it twice. I can’t imagine the pain this child felt, I cannot imagine. Sylvester’s life cannot be in vain, he cannot go like that,” actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie said, as this occurrence comes two months after her daughter, Purity, faced bullying in school.

Calling on the government, actress Toyin Abraham said, “How do you beat a child to the point of death? How do you wake up to the reality that the ‘living’ child you sent to school is returning to you as a corpse?

“Governor Sanwoolu @jidesanwoolu @lasgeducation please do the needful. People need to start talking. Dowen College needs to do better than that terse release.”

Reality TV star, Alexandra Asogwa, popularly known as Alex unusual wrote to Dowen college, “I tried to hold it in but I might explode if I don’t ask questions. It’s no news that bullying has been accommodated as one of the inevitable happenings in schools.

“As disgusting as this is, I chose to say that if proper measures are taken daily, bullying won’t be a case. That being noted, please what happened to Sylvester Oromoni?”

On-Air personality, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, said, “The truth is, this has got to be one of the most heartbreaking stories we are going to tackle. We waited to hear from all sides so we can have a robust conversation.

“There are so many angles to this story: bullying, private school administration, first-aid, healthcare delivery, and parenting a bully. Can’t wait to have this show on Monday.”

Other celebrities who have demanded justice for the child include actresses like Funke Akindele, Mary Njoku, Nkechi Blessing, Chioma Ifemeludike, Doris Ogala, amongst others.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has ordered the indefinite closure of the school, pending the outcome of an investigation into the student’s death. (The PUNCH)