Protest Erupts in Ibadan After Police Stray Bullet Kills Student on Way to WAEC Exam

Tensions flared in Ibadan on Tuesday following the tragic death of a student allegedly struck by a stray bullet fired by a police officer. The incident occurred near Gbagi Market Road as the student was reportedly on his way to sit for the ongoing West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams, accompanied by his father and sibling.

Eyewitnesses said the stray bullet was discharged during a police pursuit of a suspect. The victim was immediately rushed to Welfare Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

In response to the incident, angry youths took to the streets, marching with the student’s body to the Oyo State Government Secretariat. The protesters demanded justice and called on Governor Seyi Makinde to take urgent action.

Comrade Yemi Ezekiel Bello, President of the Save the Poor and Needy Charity Initiative (SPANCI), condemned the incident in a statement, urging Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate. According to Bello, officers from the police and the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) were reportedly chasing suspects and firing shots indiscriminately, leading to the student’s death. Bello further revealed that the bereaved father had been raising his children alone for seven years since their mother left, making the loss even more devastating.