By Pathfinder Reporter
Sunday January 28, 2024
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A 12-year-old pupil of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos State, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, who died on November 30, 2021, has been laid to rest.
Oromoni was laid to rest on Saturday at the family’s compound at Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta, after two years of fighting for justice.
He was born on December 4, 2009, and died on November 30, 2021, amid controversial circumstances, following alleged torture by some senior students of his college.
The burial attracted several dignitaries. Emotions were high as family members, friends, and well-wishers wept while mourning his (Sylvester’s) untimely death.
In a brief homily taken from the book of Isaiah 57:1-2, titled ‘Forever With The Lord’, Revd Goodluck Bayagbon of the God’s Grace Ministry, Warri, charged Christians to live a life worthy of emulation and strive to be heavenly candidates.
While describing the deceased as a true believer in Christ, the cleric noted that “Sylvester Oromoni Jnr had gone to rest with the Lord and free from all evil and calamity of the world.
“We are not here to weep and mourn over Sylvester but to celebrate a great man, a young man that God almighty loves so much. Sylvester left an indelible mark in the hearts of all men that must be emulated.
“The most important thing about life is that everyone on earth must strive to make heaven because that is a great achievement for everyone, where there is no pain, sorrow, sadness, calamity, worries. Sylvester should be emulated according to his brief biography read to us all.
“He was a good young boy, who cared so much about his fellow students, friends, sisters, brothers, and all those who crossed his path.
“He was diligent and was a devout Christian. At a young age, he cared for the needs of his fellow students, and he was very good both at school and at home. Though he left very young he has achieved the purpose of God who created him. We are here to celebrate him not to mourn. At his age, look at the mammoth crowd that came to bid him farewell to the heavens.”
Also in a brief speech, a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, eulogized Sylvester, describing him as a great Nigerian whose life was cut short.
He said, “We are here to celebrate a great Nigerian whose life was cut short. His short life was so eventful according to his biography that was just read to us now.
“The short life of Solomon cannot be compared with that of Methuselah. Sylvester touched the lives of his teachers, friends, and fellow students and we should reminded and ask ourselves what will be remembered for after this life. We must try as much as possible to rededicate our lives to God almighty. I must thank the parents of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr for standing and demanding justice for their son.”
The family, through the father of the deceased, had vowed while marking the second anniversary of their son’s untimely demise, that as a family, they would not stop crying out for justice for their departed son, adding that “As the father of the deceased, I cannot be tired or discouraged from pursuing justice as I have promised my son to get him justice even if it will take thirty years to achieve it.”
Meanwhile, a group, Justice for Sylvester Oromoni Jr., on Saturday called on the Lagos State Government to ensure a speedy conclusion of judicial processes regarding the death of a student of Dowen College, Lagos.
The Coordinator of the group, Mr Regent Youmor, who made the call in Lagos at a press conference, said that justice delayed would be justice denied.
The conference was to announce the burial of the 12-year-old student, more than two years after he died.
The student died on Nov 30, 2021, at a private hospital in Warri after alleged health complications at Dowen College, Lagos.
The bereaved family alleged that the student died from injuries he suffered as a result of bullying by five senior students of the college.
The family also alleged that he was not treated by the school in a hospital.
However, Dowen College said that the JS2 student was not bullied or injured by any student but was injured during a football match with fellow students.
Youmor said that the student’s death had generated much anger and anxiety, adding that justice concerning the death should be served without delay.
He noted that the matter was before a court of competent jurisdiction.
He advised parents to ensure a healthy relationship with their children, particularly those in boarding schools.
According to him, such a healthy relationship will make communication between them smoother and help parents to know if their children are being bullied in school or forced to join a group they do not want.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a coroner’s inquest into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death is ongoing at the Ikeja Magistrates Court.
The inquest began in January 2022.
The Coroner, Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri, said on Jan. 15, 2024, that the findings of the coroner would be released on or before April 12.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government closed Dowen College following the controversy surrounding the student’s death. (NAN)
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