By Atoyebi Nike
Tragedy struck the Alakia area of Ibadan, Oyo State, Tuesday morning when a student sitting for the ongoing West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams was fatally shot by a stray bullet allegedly fired by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
The victim, whose identity is being withheld pending official confirmation, was reportedly on his way to his examination centre in his father’s car when the incident occurred. Eyewitnesses say the police were in pursuit of a Hilux vehicle when they opened fire in the busy area. One of the bullets allegedly struck the student, who was seated in the car.
The student was rushed to a nearby hospital but was confirmed dead on arrival. His grieving father, who had only intended to drop his son off for his exam, was said to be inconsolable.
The tragic incident has triggered widespread anger across Ibadan. In a swift reaction, angry residents stormed the Oyo State Governor’s Office at the state secretariat in Agodi, demanding justice for the slain student and accountability from the Nigeria Police Force. Protesters, many of them youths and students, chanted slogans and carried placards condemning police brutality and calling for an end to indiscriminate shootings.
“This is not just a stray bullet — this is state-sanctioned carelessness,” one protester shouted, while another demanded that the officers involved be publicly identified and prosecuted.
As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Police Command had yet to release an official statement.
This tragic incident adds to growing concerns about the use of excessive force by Nigerian police and highlights the urgent need for a re-evaluation of engagement rules during high-speed pursuits, especially in populated areas.
