Tensions flared in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, on Monday, as angry youths staged a protest at the Oyo State Government Secretariat following the tragic killing of a student by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer.
The victim, who was reportedly on his way to sit for the ongoing West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exam, was struck by the bullet near Gbagi Market Road. Sources said the student was accompanied by his father and sibling when the incident occurred.
Witnesses allege that the bullet was discharged by a police officer who was in pursuit of a suspect at the time.
The student was rushed to Welfare Hospital but was declared dead on arrival. In a display of outrage and grief, protesters carried the deceased’s body to the state Government Secretariat, demanding justice and calling on Governor Seyi Makinde to take immediate action.
Reacting to the incident, Comrade Yemi Ezekiel Bello, President of the Save the Poor and Needy Charity Initiative (SPANCI), issued a strongly worded statement condemning the killing. He urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to launch a thorough investigation.
According to Bello, “It was allegedly reported that a man was taking his children to school when officers of the police force and OYRTMA, while chasing suspected internet fraudsters and traffic violators, began shooting indiscriminately. A bullet hit a young boy and killed him instantly.”
He further described the officers’ conduct as highly unprofessional, noting that the bereaved father had been solely raising his children since their mother left seven years ago.
Calls for accountability and reform have since intensified, with many demanding justice for the slain student and the prosecution of those responsible.
