Key suspects in police net as parents hold candle light

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, yesterday, confirmed that three out of five students of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos named in connection to the death of Sylvester Oromoni junior, a 12-year-old student of the college are in the Command’s custody and helping the police with useful information.

Although Odumosu did not give the identities of those in custody, he insisted that they are key suspects.

The commissioner also confirmed that the Command is set to go for the post mortem on the body in Delta State to ascertain the cause of death. Odumosu assured that police authorities in both Lagos and Delta State are keenly investigating to unravel the mystery behind Oromoni’s death.

But, Ms Oluchi Sunday, who claimed to be the mother of Edward Brown, one of the students of the college, yesterday, said her son is innocent. According to her, the son’s name, which was not earlier mentioned suddenly surfaced online and since then the family has come under severe attack. In a statement made available to the media, she insisted that her son does not live in the dormitory and was not in school at the time Oromoni was allegedly beaten.

“It has come to my attention that some individuals caused rumours to be peddled on social media platforms, suggesting that my son, Edward Brown is one of the students allegedly involved in the beating of the late Sylvester Oromoni at a Dowen College hostel, which resulted in his untimely death. “To set the record straight, I wish to bring the following facts to the public notice, which demonstrate that such rumours are false, malicious and lack any basis whatsoever: “My son is a day student and has never been a boarder. Because my son is a day student, he was not on the school premises at the time when the unfortunate incident occurred. “Precisely, the night of November 21 was a weekend. So, he could not have been in the hostel as alleged.

“In a social media post made on November 1, on the deceased’s elder brother’s Instagram page, “greatoromonii”, five names were mentioned before the conclusion. My son’s name was not among those names. “As a result of these false and malicious rumours, my son and I have been under constant attacks via social media. Insults and threats are being hurled at us daily. This has caused us much emotional distress and mental trauma. “Therefore, on behalf of myself and my son, Edward Brown, I hereby demand that managers of social media and other platforms, where the false and libellous rumours are circulating, immediately retract the offending posts and tender a public apology to us. MEANWHILE, the parents’ forum of Dowen College will today hold candlelight to pay tribute to the late student at the school compound, 18, Adebayo Doherty Road, Lekki, Lagos at 6.00 p.m.

A statement, signed on behalf of the parents’ forum by Aituaz Kola-Oladejo, Waheed Adeoye, Oluwaseun Bolanle Ajila, and Kingsley Kema Agu, read: “The lighting of candles is to pay tribute to a life ‘passed’ and keeping the light burning, signifying that the memory still lives on and burns bright. ” “The candlelight no doubt shall promote reflection and signify remembrance of a life cut short in his infancy. “Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased and pray that God gives them the strength to bear the irreparable loss.

“As parents of Dowen college students, we are still in shock and could not come to terms with this incident and the accounts so far provided by the school, students, and the media. “We are, however, temporarily relieved by the swiftness with which the authority intervened and commenced investigation towards unravelling the cause of Sylvester Oromoni’s death. “We urge the school management team and other stakeholders to fully cooperate with the authority in the ongoing investigation. While we would have loved to bring Sylvester back if humanly possible, unravelling the cause of Sylvester’s death and bringing whoever was responsible or might have contributed in whatever way to book, will not only bring this unfortunate incident to closure for the family, but this will also serve as a deterrent to others in all schools in Nigeria.

“We, therefore, say justice for Sylvester, is justice for all.

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