The Lagos State Police Command has revealed that 3 of the 5 students of the Dowen College, Lekki, who were mentioned by the deceased 12-year old student of the college, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, are currently in police custody and assisting the police with their investigation.
This is as the whereabouts of the other 2 students, who are part of the 5 students allegedly accused of bullying Sylvester, still appear unknown.
According to NAN, this was confirmed by the Lagos Police Command Spokesman, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, who did not give the identities of the 3 students in their custody, but said they are already cooperating with the police in their findings.
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What the Lagos Police Spokesman is saying
Ajisebutu said, “Yes, I can confirm to you that three of the students involved are being held in custody and are helping with the investigation.
“We can’t say too much as regards the case so that we don’t jeopardise investigation but the Lagos Police Command will leave no stone unturned in unravelling the case.’’
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had said 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 case immediately
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Odumosu explained that the Command is set to go for the post mortem of the body in Delta state to ascertain the cause of death and assured that police authorities in both Lagos and Delta State are keenly interested in the outcome of the investigation to unravel the mystery behind Sylvester’s death.
The Lagos Police Commissioner is also reported to have said that the school principal, housemasters, and other officials of the college are also assisting the police with information following the launch of full-scale investigation on the circumstances surrounding the death of Sylvester by the command.
Also, the Oromoni family has been reported to have hired the firm of foremost human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, to prosecute its case against the institution over the death of their son.
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What you should know
Recall that Oromoni was reported to have died on Wednesday, December 1, after he was assaulted by some cult group members, who he had mentioned their names before his death, according to a Twitter user who claimed to be the deceased’s cousin.
The Lagos State Government, on Friday, ordered the indefinite shutdown of Dowen College, pending the outcome of an investigation into the death of the student, Master Sylvester Oromoni (Jnr).
A report from Channels Television said that the relative had claimed that Oromoni, who was bullied and beaten by fellow students, died from injuries sustained from the beating. In a series of tweets, the family member, with handle @Perrisonoromoni said Sylvester was assaulted by some senior students of Dowen College. He added that Sylvester died after sustaining multiple internal injuries from being tortured and bullied.
However, Dowen College, in a press statement that went viral on Wednesday, denied all allegations stating that Oromoni was neither bullied nor beaten but only complained of hip pain after playing football.
The Lagos State Police Command, a few days ago, announced the commencement of investigation into the death of the Dowen College, Lekki student, Sylvester Oromoni.