The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, directed the Inspector General of Police ( IGP), Usman Baba, to immediately take over the investigation of the case of Sylvester Oromoni, a student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, who died, recently, from injuries allegedly inflicted on him by fellow students for refusing to join a “cult group” in the school.
The House also directed the IGP to take over the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of 14-year-old Karen-Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher, a student of Premier Academy, Lugbe, Abuja, who died in June allegedly from sexual assault in the school.
The parliament noted that, after investigations, anyone found culpable in the death of the two students should be prosecuted.
The Green chamber equally charged the police to investigate alleged harassment and threat to the lives of Karen’s family members, as well as the members of the family of a head of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), in the forefront of the demand for justice for the deceased.
The House, while condemning in strong terms,” recent incidences of ill-humane treatment, and abuses happening in boarding schools across the country,” charged the Federal Ministry of Education to come up with guidelines for the operation of boarding schools in the country.
Besides, the House mandated its Committees on Woman Affairs, Human Rights, and Police Affairs to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Keren, and allegations of the unwillingness of the police to initiate an investigation into her death.
The joint committee was equally mandated to probe previous cases of
sexual harassment at Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja, and other incidents of violence against women across the country.
The panel, which was also saddled with the probe of probable lapses by other relevant agencies handling Karen’s case is expected to report back to the House within six weeks for further legislative action.
This followed the adoption of two separate motions by Unyime Idem and Mark Gbillah, on the spate of inhuman treatment of students in boarding schools across the country and “suspected rape and murder of 14- Miss Keren–Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher.
Idem, in his motion, expressed concerns over the spate of harassment of students in boarding schools across the country. He noted that steps must be taken to put a stop to the ugly development.
According to him, the ” social media has been agog in the last few days, following the report on Silvester Oromoni, a twelve years old boy who recently passed away on the 27th of November 202, while nursing multiple internal injuries alleged to have been sustained after beating by fellow students, who were bullying him at a boarding school.
“The parents of the deceased said he was attacked when he declined what he termed as secondary school court group dominated by older boys in Dowen College in Lekki Lagos.
“Another incidence leading to the death of 14years Karen Akpagher of Premier Academy Lugbe, Abuja on 2nd 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.”
