By Adenike Lawal
A young student writing this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), has been fatally shot by police officers in Ibadan, sending shockwaves through the community and sparking widespread outrage.
The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday morning as the student was on his way to an exam centre.
He was reportedly in his father’s car when a team of police officers, allegedly chasing a Hilux vehicle, opened fire indiscriminately. A stray bullet hit the student, killing him on the spot.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as heartbreaking. The victim, dressed in his school uniform, was only minutes away from a future-defining exam when his life was cut short.
Local station Splash FM first reported the shooting, prompting immediate public condemnation and calls for justice.
Many described the act as senseless and avoidable, highlighting the growing problem of police brutality and recklessness in Nigeria.
Though the name of the deceased has yet to be released, multiple sources confirm he was a final-year secondary school student actively taking part in this year’s WAEC examinations.
“This is not just a tragedy, it is a national disgrace,” said one rights activist. “That a student could be killed on his way to sit for an exam shows how broken our policing system has become.”
As of press time, there has been no official statement from the police. Meanwhile, civil society groups and concerned citizens are demanding a full investigation, immediate suspension of the officers involved, and urgent reforms in police engagement protocols.
The incident adds to a long list of fatal encounters between security forces and unarmed civilians, reinforcing demands for accountability, justice, and a safer environment for Nigeria’s youth.
