A student identified simply as Taiwo, who was sitting the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), has been killed by a stray bullet allegedly fired by police officer in Ibadan, Oyo State.
It was learnt that the incident occurred near Gbagi market in the Soka area of Ibadan on Monday.
According to eyewitnesses, men of the Nigeria Police Force were in pursuit of individuals suspected to be internet fraudsters popularly known as Yahoo boys when a shot fired by one of the officers struck the student, who was reportedly in his father’s car, on his way to his exam centre.
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Taiwo’s tragic death sparked outrage in the area. Angry residents and sympathizers took to the streets in protest, carrying the deceased’s body to the Oyo State Government Secretariat in Agodi.
They demanded justice and immediate identification and prosecution of the officer responsible.
“I was at the scene. The boy was just preparing for his exam. Now he’s gone because of reckless policing,” a protester told reporters.
Traffic was temporarily grounded around the secretariat and adjacent routes as security operatives moved in to calm the situation.
The spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, SP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed that an investigation had commenced.
He said the command was working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the shooting and assured the public that any officer found culpable would face disciplinary and legal actions.
The Oyo State Government has yet to issue an official statement as of press time, but officials have reportedly met with some of the protesters at the Secretariat.
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