Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has advised parents not just to declare the loss of their children but also to insist on knowing the cause of their deaths.
Falana stated this at the weekend when he joined numerous Nigerians at Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri South West local government area of Delta State, to give Sylvester Oromoni Jr., a 12-year-old student of Dowen College in Lagos State, a farewell burial rite.
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According to him, the struggle for justice over the reported murder case of Sylvester Oromoni Jr. would be sustained and continued despite his burial.
Sylvester Jr. was laid to rest solemnly at his family’s compound in Ogbe-Ijoh after a two-year probe into the remote cause of his death.
He described the deceased as a great Nigerian whose life was tragically cut short after he was laid to rest in his father’s edifice at Ogbe-Ijoh town, where a solemn church service was held in his honour.
“One thing we have learned from the family is that it is not just for you to declare the loss of your son but also to insist on knowing the cause of the death of your son.
“Not to bring back your son, but to ensure that it doesn’t happen to the children of other people, which for us is a huge sacrifice. So, we’re delighted to be here, though for us, it’s with mixed feelings,” he said.
He assured them that the quest for justice would continue, as the coroner’s findings were expected to be released in April.
In a sermon preached at the burial ceremony, taken from the book of Isaiah 57:1-2, titled “Forever With the Lord,” Ven. Revd. Goodluck Bayagbon of the God’s Grace Ministry, Warri, charged Christians to live a life worthy of emulation and strive to be heavenly candidates.
Speaking at the funeral, the president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Mr. Lucky Emonefe, made it clear that NANS will not tolerate any form of negligence or disregard for the safety and well-being of students.
“The loss of a student’s life is not something that can be taken lightly, and NANS is determined to hold those responsible accountable for their actions,” he said.
Also, Sylvester Oromoni Snr. said that his family is still determined to seek justice for their son, maintaining that even if it takes him decades, he will wait for justice to be done for the brutal death of his son.
Sylvester was reported to have developed health complications after he was allegedly tortured by some senior students and died tragically on November 30, 2021.