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Few days ago, the news of the death of a young promising boy (Sylvester Oromoni) was all over the media. The boy was a student of Dowen College, one of the big secondary schools in Nigeria. Unfortunately for him, his schoolmates bullied him to his death.
Late Sylvester's father revealed that his son suffered liver enlargement due to congealed blood. He said they kicked his son continuously and also matched his waist. He got to know about this because his son kept telling them before his death that he didn't play football neither did he fall. Those were his last words.
Mr Oromomi is currently seeking for justice for his son because he knows quite well that the parents of the boys who killed his son are very wealthy, and can easily get their kids out of this mess with their money. Information has it that they've already withdrawn their children from the school immediately after the unfortunate incident.
The boys who committed this deadly act are five; four of them are in senior secondary school 2, while one is in senior secondary school 1. Their parents are already trying to fly them out of the country and that's if they've not done that already.
The rate at which these things are happening in our secondary schools nowadays is alarming. First it was Chrisland School, and then the boy molested in Deeper Life School. Earlier this year, a junior school girl also died in a big school in Abuja, and just some days ago, Sylvester was killed in Dowen College. Surprisingly, these are schools where their school fees are on the high side.
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The video of Sylvester was so heart-wrenching to watch. I couldn't even finish watching it. I heard the school is trying to cover up the issue as usual. A child is dead and all they care about is protecting the image of their school. What a world!
I have always thought that the government boarding schools are bad, but I have come to realize that the private boarding schools are worse. The bullying and abuse in the private boarding schools is on another level.
To be sincere, it seems the children attending these private boarding schools are the spawn of the devil himself, because I can't imagine the wickedness that will be residing in the heart of a teenager. But should I really blame them? When their parents are wealthy and don't see it a big deal abusing and harassing their domestic staff, what do we expect from their offspring?
It's true that kids can be manipulative at times, but that's why we need to be discerning as adults. Parents should please learn to listen to their kids, both when they are talking and when they are not. When they are not talking is even when we should be more concerned.
Don't just pay their fees and leave the most important part of your RESPONSIBILITY for others to do. Had it been the parents of Sylvester were quick to understand what their son was trying to say, perhaps, he wouldn't have met his end.
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Sadly, these cases aren't isolated but just an indication of bigger problems to come. Nigeria has a big problem of youth gang activities (cult gangs). It used to be limited to the institutions of higher learning up to some decades ago. But gang activities have permeated deeper into Primary and Secondary School levels today.
Encourage your kids to speak out, even during phone calls to them in the boarding school. Kids feel so much relief when they know you always have time to listen to them. Even Residential Estates and Neighborhood are contested turfs amongst Gangs who pressure children into swearing loyalty and undergoing gruesome initiation rites. So, if it is not Banditry, Terrorism, it will be Cult Gangs.
This is what you get when Society fails and people resort to seeking protection from Gangs to survive and to be protected. I understand the Economy is harsh and pushing people all over the place. However, let's try to find the right balance and create time for our wards.
Being rich doesn't mean you are above the law and can do whatsoever you want to, including taking another person's life.
I pray these young bullies get punished because that's what they deserve.
I just hope Sylvester gets his justice.
