A stray bullet has killed a student who was heading to the examination centre to sit for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination being organised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The incident happened on Gbagi Market road in the Egbeda Local Government Area of the state when a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer in pursuit of a suspect hit and killed the student on Tuesday.
PUNCH Online gathered that he student was reportedly in his father’s car, heading to the exam centre, when he was struck by a bullet fired by police officers chasing a Hilux vehicle.
The student, according to multiple eyewitnesses, was on his way to the examination centre.
One of the sources, simply identified as Ajani, said, “A police officer opened fire while chasing a fleeing vehicle. One of the bullets reportedly hit the student.
“The victim was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.”
Another witness said, “The deceased was on his way to the examination centre alongside his twin brother when the tragedy happened.”
Meanwhile, irate youths took the student’s lifeless body to the state secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, to demand justice and called on Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene.
Reacting, the state government commiserated with the family of the deceased.
The government described the incident as sad, shocking and painful.
The government, in a statement by the Special Adviser to Makinde on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, promised to work with the state police command to investigate the matter and ensure that justice is served.
Olanrewaju noted that the incident was totally avoidable, noting how what started as a traffic offence, with the father of the slain boy driving against traffic, resulted in the loss of an innocent life.
The government urged residents to remain calm as the police and the government handle the situation, while it also warned residents against breaking traffic rules.
It clarified that contrary to claims that the incident occurred while the police were chasing a suspected internet fraudster, the incident actually occurred during a routine operation against traffic infraction, carried out by men of the state Road Traffic Maintenance Authority.
“OYRTMA officials in conjunction with a team from the police, embarked on the traffic operation on Alakia Old Road following complaints from residents over constant one-way traffic violations that have led to deaths and life-threatening injuries on the axis.
“The backup from the police became imperative following assaults on OYRTMA officials and a recent killing of one official in Ibadan by a traffic offender.
“The father of the slain boy drove a tinted black Honda Accord Car with registration number FST 639 JU against the traffic at around 7.30 a.m.
“It was during an attempt to apprehend the traffic offender that a policeman, who is already being investigated by the state police command, allegedly aimed a shot at one of the tyres of the car, which missed the target,” the government explained.
“We urge residents to stay calm while the police and the government work together to handle the situation. We also warn against breaking traffic rules,” the government added.
The government also promised to ensure justice is served and reassured the public that steps would be taken to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
