‘We Have Won, Stop Spreading False Informations,’ Dowen College Tells Nigerians

“Our truth has won,” according to the management of Dowen College in Lagos, which has advised Nigerians to stop circulating false information concerning the death of a 12-year-old pupil, Sylvester Oromoni.

This is according to a statement released by the school on Friday, just days after the Lagos State government cleared its pupils and employees of any wrongdoing in the death of a former student.

Dowen College believes it is past time for Nigerians to let Sylvester’s 12-year-old soul rest in peace.

Dowen College said, “We sincerely urge that all those who have constantly, misguidedly, and deliberately promoted false information cease and desist immediately, allowing our precious Sylvester’s soul to rest peacefully in our Lord’s arm.”

The death of the late student, who claimed that he was tortured by other students who compelled him to join a hidden cult within the school grounds, has sparked controversy.

On Wednesday, the Lagos State Ministry of Justice’s Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) stated that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the arrested students were members of an illegal society.

But Dowen College said that “we do not know under what circumstances the accused names were mentioned,” adding that it had “no response” to that.

It insisted that the school was only aware that young Oromoni sustained injuries while playing football, claiming “two of the boys mentioned are day students with no connections to the hostel; a third boy mentioned was a regular weekly boarder who went home each weekend for home tutoring. He was not in the hostel over the weekend.

“Sylvester did not leave with any visible body injuries from the school contrary to what was showcased on social media,” it said, insisting that no issue was raised about his health until seven days after he was collected from school; a follow-up call to the family, while he was at home, revealed his leg was being massaged, nothing else.”

Stating that Dowen College had been dragged through the mud, the management said “today the truth wins, our faith wins and our integrity wins.”

The management stressed that “the autopsy report which is the product of the work of seven of the leading Pathologists in Nigeria, including one representing the Oromoni family from Delta State has shown that Sylvester had several chronic pre-existing health conditions. These health conditions cannot be fabricated or doctored. If there were contributory injuries from any bodily harm they would have been presented and stated.”

Meanwhile, persons believed to be members of the Ijaw Youth Council on Thursday stormed the premises of Dowen College to protest the recent release of suspects detained over the death of young Oromoni.

Earlier, a video of final moments of late Oromoni also obtained by Peoples Gazette indicated that he died of no natural causes, as it indicated that he was badly beaten to which the doctor attested to internal injuries.