Dowen College: Reps Members Seek Probe Of Inhuman Treatment, Abuses In Boarding Schools …ask IGP to take over investigation

Following the death of Master Sylvester Oromoni, a 12-year-old boy at Dowen College, Lekki in Lagos, the House of Representatives has condemned recent incidences of inhuman treatment and abuses happening in boarding schools across the country. 

The House consequently mandated the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Alkali Baba to immediately commission and take over the investigation, prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators of the identified heinous crimes. 

It also urged the Federal Ministry of Education to set out guidelines for the operations of boarding schools across the country and mandated the House committees on education, youth development and women affairs and social development to follow up with the investigation, set up a committee to brainstorm and come up with modalities and report to the House within two weeks.

The resolution was taken after adopting a motion sponsored by Hon. Unyime Idem at plenary. Leading debate on the motion, Idem said he was aware that boarding students, apart from having classes together, eat and live in the same house. 

“Most times, they are only separated when they all go home to their parents or guardians during holidays. While there is no way to make a broad conclusion as to whether boarding schools are good or bad, some recent developments in Nigeria have triggered public outrage as many share their experiences,” he stated. 

He noted that the social media has been agog in the last few days following the reports on the late Sylvester Oromoni. 
“The parents of the deceased said he was attacked for declining to join what he termed as the secondary school’s ‘cult group’ dominated by older boys at Dowen College in Lekki, Lagos.”

He informed that: “Another incident leading to the death of 14-year-old Karen-Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher of Premier Academy, Lugbe, Abuja on the 22nd day of June 2021 is one that left many heartbroken. 
“Her parents narrated how their daughter was sexually assaulted and later died of complications as a result of a condom left in her private part. Six months later, there is still no news of a suspect being arrested.” 

He said following the two recent cases, some Nigerians on the social space have been voicing out their bitter experiences with boarding schools. 
Quoting a public analyst, the lawmaker said “bullying” is a major pandemic in Nigerian boarding schools.