More than 120,000 people have signed two Change.org petitions requesting that all individuals guilty of the terrible death of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni, a boarding student at Dowen College in Lekki, Lagos, be promptly prosecuted.
As of 2 pm on Sunday, the first petition, named “Justice For Sylvester Oromoni Jnr,” created by a family member of the dead, Timi Oromoni, has gathered over 70,000 signatures.
The petition reads: “On Tuesday 30/11/2021 we lost our brother 12 years old Sylvester Oromoni Jnr. He was a son, grandson, brother, cousin, uncle to his little nieces, he was a friend, he meant everything to us and Yes he was only a child an innocent child.”
“He was taken from us in the most gruesome of manner beaten by senior 5 boys in his hostel in Dowen College lekki Lagos state. He was tortured by these boys in his school and compelled to silence otherwise they threatened to kill him.
“This torture and beatings lead to injuries unimaginable and the school authorities without a proper duty of care took his agony at face value and claimed he had a fall playing soccer. Without proper investigation or care, they called his parents to pick him up.
“The family upon seeing their once healthy vibrant child knew these pains and injuries were beyond a domestic fall. The child could barely articulate words and move without these heart-wrenching painful sounds.
“Sylvester Jnr reported to the family he did not fall as alleged by the school. He said he was beaten and tortured by 5 senior students and mentioned their names. The students are from influential families and the school is trying to bury the case.
Sign and help us find justice for Sylvester Oromoni Jnr. It’s our fight he could be your son, your brother, your cousin. #justiceforsylvester.”
Also, as of press time, The Irede Foundation’s second petition, titled “We Want Justice For Sylvester,” had gathered over 50,000 signatures.
The petition partly reads: “We need the police to act immediately and investigate the circumstances and events that led to his death. We’re asking the Lagos Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo and officials of the Lagos State Universal Education Board, and the Federal Ministry of Education to probe allegations of bullying and negligence.
“We’re asking for a thorough and transparent investigation and prosecution of those found to be culpable in this tragic incident.
“Justice must be served and seen to be served for 12-year-old Sylvester and his family.”
