A student en route to write the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Ibadan, Oyo State, tragically lost his life after being struck by a stray bullet.
The incident occurred on Tuesday along Gbagi Market Road in Egbeda Local Government Area. According to reports, the student was inside his father’s vehicle on the way to the examination centre when he was hit by a bullet fired during a police operation. Officers were reportedly chasing a Hilux van at the time of the shooting.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the student, who was accompanied by his twin brother, was heading to the exam venue when the bullet struck him. One witness, identified as Ajani, said the police had opened fire while pursuing the fleeing vehicle, and a bullet accidentally hit the student. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead upon arrival.
In protest, aggrieved youths carried the student’s body to the Oyo State Secretariat in Agodi, demanding justice and calling for the intervention of Governor Seyi Makinde.
Reacting to the incident, the Oyo State Government expressed condolences to the victim’s family and described the event as deeply unfortunate. A statement issued by the governor’s media aide, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, confirmed that the state government would collaborate with the police to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure accountability.
According to the statement, the fatal shooting occurred during a routine traffic enforcement operation. Contrary to earlier claims suggesting that the police were chasing a suspected internet fraudster, officials clarified that the operation was in response to persistent wrong-way driving in the area, which had led to several fatal accidents in the past.
The government explained that officers from the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), supported by police personnel, were enforcing traffic rules along Alakia Old Road. The student’s father, driving a black Honda Accord with tinted windows and registration number FST 639 JU, reportedly violated traffic laws by driving against oncoming traffic.
During the attempt to apprehend the driver, a police officer allegedly aimed at the car’s tyre. Unfortunately, the bullet missed and struck the student instead. The officer involved is currently under investigation by the state police command.
The government appealed for calm and urged residents to obey traffic laws. It also assured the public that all necessary steps would be taken to prevent similar tragedies and ensure justice is served.
