NANS urges IGP to ensure justice for Ibadan student killed by Police

..seeks comprehensive police reform

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate the killing of a secondary school student by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a policeman in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The student body also urged the IGP to identify the culprit and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to bring the officer to justice.

A student heading to sit the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) was reported to have been killed by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a policeman on Tuesday morning in Ibadan.

The student, said to be participating in the ongoing WASSCE, was hit by the stray bullet around the Gbagi Market Road.

It was gathered that the bullet was fired by a police officer who was in pursuit of a suspect.

The victim was immediately rushed to a private hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Reacting to the incident, NANS, in a statement signed by its National Vice President for Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Akinbodunse Felicia, on Wednesday, described the student’s death as unfortunate, painful, but preventable.

She stated that the secondary school student, cut down in his prime, is a pointer to the archaic methods of discharging firearms in residential areas by the police, insisting that the IGP must ensure the officer responsible faces the full weight of the law.

Akinbodunse, who expressed deep sorrow over the student’s death, noted that the grief and despair that will engulf the victim’s family can only be imagined.

She extended her condolences to the family, assuring that NANS, as a student body, would follow the matter to its logical conclusion, ensure that justice is served, and that appropriate compensation is paid to the victim’s family.

The NANS National Vice President, however, warned the police authority not to sweep the matter under the carpet but rather to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and punish the culprit to serve as a deterrent to others.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of NANS, Comrade Anzaku Shedrack Ovye, has called on the Federal Government to carry out a comprehensive reform of the police force, including retraining and reorienting officers on rules of engagement—especially within civilian environments—to prevent such tragedies in future.

He condemned the misuse of firearms in civilian settings, stating that it is unacceptable and must attract strict consequences.

Ovye said: “This senseless loss of life is a stark reminder of the need for urgent reforms in our policing system. On behalf of the entire Nigerian student community, I extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family, his school, friends, and all who are affected by this devastating loss.

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“No student should die while chasing their dreams, and no parent should have to bury their child under such circumstances. We strongly condemn this act of indiscriminate shooting by a law enforcement agent whose duty is to protect, not endanger lives.

“The misuse of firearms in civilian environments is unacceptable and must be met with strict consequences,” he stated.

He called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Oyo State Commissioner of Police to onduct a swift, impartial, and transparent investigation into the incident while noting that security agencies nationwide must reexamine engagement protocols, ensure accountability, and prioritize the sanctity of human lives, particularly that of vulnerable students whose safety and education are already burdened with numerous challenges.

“To Students and Youths of Oyo State and Nigeria at large, we understand the rage and pain that this loss has caused, but we urge you not to take laws into your own hands.

“Let us channel our anger into a unified call for justice, reforms, and accountability through peaceful and coordinated action. We must work together to demand a safer and more just society for all,” he added.

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