Tragedy struck in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, today when a student en route to sit for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) was allegedly killed by a stray bullet.
The incident occurred along Gbagi Market Road in Egbeda Local Government Area when a police officer reportedly opened fire while pursuing a fleeing suspect. One of the bullets allegedly struck the student, who was on a motorcycle with his father and twin brother at the time.
Eyewitnesses say the victim, whose identity has yet to be officially confirmed, was on his way to the examination centre for his WASSCE papers when the fatal shot was fired.
“A police officer opened fire while chasing a vehicle. A stray bullet hit the boy, who was with his father and twin brother on a motorcycle,” said one eyewitness, identified simply as Ajani.
The student was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
In response to the incident, enraged youths took the student’s body to the Oyo State Secretariat in Agodi, demanding justice and calling on Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene.
The body has since been deposited at the Adeoyo Hospital morgue.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Oyo State Police Command nor government authorities had issued an official statement regarding the incident.
