Student’s death: Nigerians react as Lagos shutdown Dowen College

Nigerian celebrities, including Mercy Johnson, Tonto Dikeh, amongst several others have taken to their respective social media platforms to demand justice for the 12-year-old Dowen College student, Sylvester Oromoni who was reportedly beaten to death by fellow students for refusing to join their cult group.

The unfortunate demise of the teenager has instigated controversy on social media after Dowen College officials denied reports that the student was assaulted by his schoolmates.

The deceased was said to have been assaulted by some cult groups, who he identified before his death, as students of the college for refusing to join the fraternity.

He was admitted in a Lagos hospital on Friday following the attack and confirmed dead on Tuesday.

A relative of the deceased, Perrison Oromoni, took to the micro blogging site, Twitter on Wednesday, to announce his demise.

READ ALSO: Family releases video of final moments of late Dowen College student

He revealed that the 12-year-old passed away on Tuesday after a series of tests and X-rays indicated that he sustained internal injuries from severe beating

Following the uproar on social media, Nigerian celebrities have joined the #JusticeForSylvester trend to demand proactive steps from administrators of the school.

Notable Nollywood star, Mercy Johnson who was recently involved in an altercation with one of the teacher’s in her daughter’s school published a statement on her Instagram page.

“I just watched the shocking video of the young 12-year old student Sylvester Oromoni! I have never seen such pain and agony before!!! I deeply, deeply sympathize with Sylvester Oromoni’s family. There are no words that can bring him back or take away the agony he faced,” she wrote.

“Dowen College, Sylvester’s parents need answers, the plain truth! Dowen PTA finds out what happened in your children’s school. The truth must come out. And after it comes out we must make sure justice is done.”

Tonto Dike on her Instagram wrote, “Dear Dowen College, I have been informed, I am coming… I am 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 feet below.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government Friday ordered the indefinite closure of Dowen College, Lekki , pending the outcome of an investigation into the death of Sylvester Oromoni Junior, a student of the school.

A statement signed by the Assistant Director of Public Affairs of the ministry said the Commissioner for Education Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo announced the closure after a meeting with the school management and staff.

Adefiayo called for calm, saying no effort will be spared in getting to the root of the incident.