Oromoni: School owners should be prosecuted if students die in their care, says Ruggedman

Michael Stephens, the ace rapper better known as Ruggedman, has urged the Nigerian police to arrest proprietors of schools that students die in their care.

The rapper spoke in a chat with HipTV on Wednesday.

Dowen College, situated in Lekki, Lagos, has been in the eye of the storm since the demise of Sylvester Oromoni.

Oromoni, the 12-year-old boy, died a few days ago after he was allegedly attacked by “some senior colleagues” for refusing to join a cult group.

The student’s father had earlier told TheCable Lifestyle that his child was beaten and fed a liquid chemical.

But the school dismissed the claim, alleging that he sustained injuries while playing football with his colleagues.

Oromoni’s death has continued to generate reactions from the public, with various hashtags demanding justice for the late student.

Several celebrities also used their different platforms to amplify anti-bully mantras.

Adding his voice to the growing call for a safe environment for students, Ruggedman said schools must start taking responsibility for the children in their care.

He added that the police should also arrest proprietors of any school that neglects its students until avoidable circumstances claim their lives.

“Poor, young Sylvester bullied and murdered in the school. Now everybody is talking about it, and I’m happy. Now the school has been shut down, but the next thing is justice. Because justice is what we are looking for. Parents have no choice. They have to send their children to school, be it boarding or day school,” the rapper said.

“But once a child is in your care — now I’m talking to the school authorities — You’re responsible. So if anything happens to a child in your school, you take responsibility.

“So I’m expecting the government and the right authorities to arrest the proprietor of any school that a child dies in their care. Arrest them, do the proper investigation and prosecute everybody.”

Ruggedman also called for the arrest of the family members of the remaining two suspects in connection to Oromoni’s death if they failed to produce the students who are said to be at large.

“For Sylvester’s case, I heard two of the children involved in his death have been flown out of the country. So I expect the government to bring those kids back or arrest the family that flew them abroad.”

The police had begun interrogating three out of the five suspects named by the deceased before he died.