A tragic incident unfolded in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, as a secondary school student preparing to write the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) was fatally struck by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer.
The shooting occurred along the busy Gbagi Market Road in Egbeda Local Government Area in the early hours of the day. According to multiple eyewitness accounts, the student, accompanied by his twin brother and father, was on his way to an examination centre when chaos erupted. A police team, reportedly in pursuit of a fleeing vehicle, opened fire in an attempt to stop the suspect. In the process, a stray bullet struck the teenager.
Reports indicate that the officers were attempting to stop a Hilux vehicle that had allegedly evaded police scrutiny. Amid the chase, a shot fired by one of the officers missed its target and hit the student. He was rushed to Welfare Hospital in the Alakia area but was confirmed dead on arrival.
The deceased was identified as a Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3) student actively sitting for his WAEC exams. His twin brother, who was present at the time, reportedly witnessed the entire incident.
News of the tragedy spread rapidly, sparking grief and outrage across the community. In protest, angry youths and sympathizers carried the student’s body to the Oyo State Government Secretariat at Agodi, demanding justice and calling for immediate intervention by Governor Seyi Makinde. They chanted slogans and insisted that the officers involved be held accountable.
As of the time of this report, the Oyo State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
