Ibadan, Nigeria – Tragedy struck in Ibadan on Tuesday morning as a candidate sitting for the ongoing West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams was killed by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer.
The incident occurred along Gbagi Market Road when police officers engaged in a high-speed chase of a vehicle suspected to belong to internet fraudsters, commonly referred to as “Yahoo Boys.” During the pursuit, one of the officers reportedly fired shots, and a stray bullet struck the student, who was riding on a motorcycle with his twin brother.
The victim, whose identity has not yet been officially released, was en route to his examination centre when the incident happened. He was rushed to Welfare Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The fatal shooting sparked outrage among residents and traders in the area. In protest, sympathisers carried the deceased’s body to the Oyo State Secretariat, demanding justice and accountability from the police.
As tensions rose, security was tightened at the entrance of the secretariat to prevent escalation, while demonstrators continued to call for a thorough investigation and urgent reforms in police procedures, especially concerning the use of firearms in public spaces.
As of press time, neither the Oyo State Police Command nor the state government has released an official statement regarding the incident. A video of the aftermath, showing the protest and grieving family members, has since gone viral on social media.
The incident has reignited debates around police conduct and public safety, particularly the handling of firearms in densely populated areas.
