Dowen College Shuts Down Over Death Of 12-Year-Old Student

Dowen secondary school has shut down over controversy surrounding the alleged death of a 12-year-old student, Sylvester Oromoni.

Dowen, in a statement on Friday, said the school will be closed for two days over the current situation.

The statement read: “In view of the situation concerning the school and considering the emotions of our students we have advised that our students stay home tomorrow Friday 3rd and Monday 6th December 2021.

This will also afford the students opportunity to revise for their forthcoming examination starting next week

Oromoni’s death became public knowledge after a family member, identified as Perri, on Thursday posted about the incident on social media.

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The family member identified as @PerrisOnoromoni alleged that the Junior Secondary School 2 pupil died from internal injuries he sustained during an assault by fellow students who wanted to initiate him into cultism.

He stated this before his cousin died after he called out five pupils who brutalised him for refusing to join a cult.

However, a statement by Dowen College Principal, Mrs. Adebisi Layiwola, denied any form of bullying or attack on the student.

Part of the statement read, “The whole incident is strange and unbelievable because the school had effective anti-bullying policies and consequences are well spelt out to all the students.”

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According to them, the preliminary investigation proved 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.

“Furthermore, we state categorically Dowen College is built on core values of godliness and excellence and will not tolerate any acts of cultism, which is why there is nothing like that and there have never been such deviant activities as this is a faith-based school and effective policies are in place to prevent such occurrence,” the statement said.

The statement has since stirred outrage on social media as Nigerians have called for justice.