SAD! WAEC Candidate Killed by Stray Police Bullet During High-Speed Chase in Ibadan
A tragic incident unfolded on Tuesday in Ibadan, Oyo State, when a candidate of the ongoing West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examination was fatally struck by a stray bullet reportedly fired by a police officer during a high-speed chase.
The unfortunate event occurred along the busy Gbagi Market Road, where officers of the Nigeria Police Force were in pursuit of a vehicle suspected to be occupied by internet fraudsters, commonly referred to as “Yahoo Boys.” Amid the chase, one of the officers discharged his firearm, and a stray bullet hit the student, who was on a motorcycle with his twin brother, en route to write his examination.
Eyewitnesses said the teenager was immediately rushed to Welfare Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival, throwing the community into mourning.
The victim’s death sparked outrage in the area as sympathisers and traders from the Gbagi Market staged a protest, conveying the lifeless body to the Oyo State Secretariat. The protesters demanded justice for the slain student and called for sweeping reforms in police operations, particularly around the use of firearms in public spaces.
Security operatives were quickly deployed to the entrance of the government secretariat to manage the aggrieved crowd and maintain order.
As of the time of this report, neither the Oyo State Police Command nor the Oyo State Government had issued an official statement addressing the tragic event.
The identity of the deceased has yet to be made public, but the incident has reignited conversations around police accountability and the protection of innocent lives amid security operations.
