A schoolboy was reportedly killed by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a policeman, triggering protests in the Alakia–Gbagi area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Tuesday.
It was gathered that the victim was heading to the examination centre to sit for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Ibadan.
The incident happened on Gbagi Market Road in the Egbeda Local Government Area of the state during rush hour.
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It reportedly occurred when the boy’s father was alleged to have violated a traffic signal.
In an attempt to evade apprehension, he was said to have been chased by some policemen.
Witnesses said one of the policemen fired at the fleeing vehicle to disable it by targeting its tyres.
The bullet was said to have struck the child, who was in the car with his father, fatally wounding him.
“The officer was trying to stop the vehicle, but he fired and hit the boy instead. It all happened so fast along Gbagi Market Road,” one witness recounted.
The victim was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital but was reportedly confirmed dead on arrival.
Another witness, a vulcaniser, who pleaded anonymity, said the boy, in his school uniform, was rushed to Welfare Hospital within the area, where he was confirmed dead.
“The aggrieved public, protesting the incident, carried the remains of the deceased to the state Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, attempting to see Governor Seyi Makinde,” said the witness.
A mob, miffed by the development, was said to have moved the student’s corpse to the Oyo State Secretariat, where they staged a protest, demanding justice and accountability from the state government.
The source said the protesters were received by the governor’s Executive Assistant on Security, Mr Sunday Odukoya, who assured that the government would take up the matter.
The police command has not issued an official statement regarding the shooting.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Oyo State Police Command’s spokesperson had yet to reply to calls and messages put across to him at the time of filing the report.
NANS condemns killing
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students, Southwest Zone D, has condemned the death of a student who was hit by a stray bullet, issuing authorities a 24-hour ultimatum to ensure justice.
In a statement signed on Tuesday by the Coordinator, Owolewa Taiwo, the General Secretary, Oluwole Olutunde, and the Public Relations Officer, Kuku Isaiah Eromidayo, NANS said, “It is with deep pain, heavy hearts, and righteous indignation that we, the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southwest Zone D led by Comrade Owolewa Taiwo, condemn in the strongest terms the senseless and inexcusable killing of a WAEC candidate today, May 20, 2025, at Alaakia, Ibadan by a reckless officer of the Nigeria Police Force.”
“This is not just an accident; it is a national disgrace and a direct attack on the Nigerian student body. We are tired of issuing condolence statements. We are tired of hashtags. We are tired of watching our comrades fall to bullets and brutality.”
It stressed that brutality and extrajudicial killings had become a recurring experience for young Nigerians.
“The student body is demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the officer responsible, suspension and investigation of the entire police unit involved, a public apology, and compensation to the victim’s family.
“There must be a thorough overhaul of rogue elements in the police force operating in Oyo State,” it read.
NANS further alleged that the officers responsible were linked to the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), who had continued to operate with impunity in defiance of previous reforms.
It, therefore, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the relevant authorities, including Gov. Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, and the Inspector-General of Police, to take swift action.
“Nigerian students are not criminals. We will not fold our arms while our colleagues are being killed.
“If justice is not served within 24 hours, we will embark on peaceful protests, mass mobilisation, and take legal steps,” the statement read.
The association also emphasised its commitment to protecting the lives and dignity of Nigerian students, reiterating that it would not tolerate further acts of police brutality.
“We say NO to police brutality! We say NO to extrajudicial killings! We say NO to the silence that fuels oppression!
“This young comrade’s life must not be lost in vain. Justice must be done and must be seen to be done,” the statement read.
Related incident in Delta
Men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) allegedly shot and killed a two-year-old boy, Ivan Onoseriegba, on Thursday, July 13, 2023, in Okpanam in Oshimili North LGA of Delta State.
Daily Trust reports that the pupil was fatally hit on his abdomen, while the shattered glasses, which the stray bullet pierced, injured his younger brother, Erhumossele, in their mother’s shop, Hillsi Cakes N More Academy, in Edoz Plaza on Okpanam Road.
The family of the victims demanded justice for the murder.
Reacting to the incident, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori condemned the killing in a statement by his spokesman, Festus Ahon, saying, “The tragic incident is regrettable and avoidable if the officers had operated based on their rules of engagement.”
He, therefore, called on the NDLEA and the police command to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the boy and injury to his brother with a view to bringing the cu In the meantime, Oyo State Government has said that the father of the 17-year-old schoolboy reportedly killed by a stray bullet drove against the traffic when the incident occurred in Ibadan on Tuesday.
Reacting, 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.
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.lprits to book and avoiding a future occurrence.
At the time, the NDLEA in a statement by its spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said, “We are investigating a shooting incident involving our officers during the raid of a drug joint at Okpanam area of Asaba, Delta State, where a young person was hit by a stray bullet resulting in death while undergoing treatment in the hospital.
Father of schoolboy killed drove against traffic – Oyo govt
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