Police Take Over Probe Of Dowen College Student’s Death

The probe of the circumstances surrounding the death of the 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lagos, Sylvester Oromoni, has now been taken over by the Homicide Section of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Lagos State Police Command.

Spokesman of the command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said yesterday that the state Police Commissioner had directed the Divisional Police Officer, Maroko Division, whose jurisdiction covers the scene of the incident to immediately visit the school to carry out the initial investigation. Ajisebutu confirmed that the “in view of the seriousness of the case, the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, has also been directed to take over the investigation of the case immediately.”

Oromoni died on November 30, 2021, from injuries which his family alleged were inflicted on him by fellow students who allegedly bullied and beat him.

The Lagos State Government has shut down the school indefinitely.

The family of the late Sylvester, yesterday, put aside their grief to mark his 12th birthday.

The family had alleged foul play in their son’s death but the school authorities claimed the boy got injured playing football. In spite of the psychological and emotional trauma that the sad incident brought upon them, the bereaved father on Thursday said they (the family) were going to bake and cut cake to celebrate the late son’s birthday.

“His birthday is next tomorrow (Dec 4). I’ll celebrate it. I’ll have a cake baked. I’ll cut it on his behalf,” the father said.

The embattled father, together with other members of the family made good their promise when they baked and cut cake to mark his birthday yesterday.

“Happy birthday, Sylvester Jnr. Oromonic” an inscription on one of the cakes read. One of the cakes was designed like a school uniform with a green tie on it. By the side of the cake was a neatly shaped image of an aircraft and a pilot’s cap.

The father who wore a black T-shirt was seen in the company of family members in one of the photographs clutching a giant picture of the late son to his chest while cutting the cake.