On Monday, Ijaw Women Connect (IWC), a socio-cultural group, in Yenagoa bemoaned the killing of a 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lagos, Sylvester Oromoni (Jnr), vowing to stage a protest.

The group explained that Ijaw mothers would join hands with mothers all over Nigeria to march on the streets of Lagos and Abuja to seek answers over the killing and ensure justice is served.

The group also demanded that Dowen College be held accountable for failing to protect the deceased.

IWC also noted that unguarded press statements aimed at diverting public attention to cover up a crime that claimed the life of an innocent child was condemnable.

“We condemn in totality and in strong terms the gruesome killing of Oromoni (Jnr),” IWC said in a statement signed by its president, Rosemary John-Oduone, and spokesperson, Izuogere Iwolo.

It noted that master Oromoni died due to injuries sustained after being bullied, battered and given an unknown substance to drink by five senior students of the college.

It urged security agencies to wade into the issue promptly and bring the perpetrators to book.

“We, as Ijaw mothers whose sister and brother lost a very promising and bright child, will not be silent to watch Sylvester Oromoni (Jnr) die while those responsible for his early passage go scot-free,” added the group. “It is depressing, and it saddens our hearts to see another future leader of our dear nation killed for his refusal to join a cult group in school.”

The association pleaded for the death to be investigated.

“We are pleading that the matter must be investigated, perpetrators apprehended and punished to serve as a deterrent against future occurrences,’’ IWC stated.

The group noted that the public was aware of an alleged plot by parents of the five boys involved in assaulting master Oromoni to death to sneak them out of Nigeria to evade justice.

“They will definitely be returned from whichever country to face the full wrath of the law and be held responsible for their evil action. To the Oromoni’s, be rest assured that we are with you in these trying moments,” stated the IWC. “May the soul of our little departed son Sylvester Oromoni (Jnr) rest in peace,’’ IWC stated. 

(NAN)