The Nigeria Police Force, Oyo State Command, has remained silent for hours after a police officer allegedly shot and killed a candidate of the ongoing 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, May 20, 2025, along Gbagi Market Road, sparking protests by aggrieved youths at the Oyo State Government Secretariat.

Reports said the student was on his way to his exam centre with his father and sibling when a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer pursuing a suspect hit him.

The victim was rushed to Welfare Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

In response, protesters carried the deceased’s body to the Oyo State Government Secretariat, demanding the intervention of Governor Seyi Makinde.

A video seen by THE WHISTLER showed the lifeless body on a stretcher, surrounded by youths and an unidentified police officer dressed in black.

“A police officer did this; lock him up,” a voice in the background shouted.

THE WHISTLER reached out to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, but received no response.

Messages sent via WhatsApp and SMS were also left unanswered as of press time.

The President of Save the Poor and Needy Charity Initiative (SPANCI), Comrade Yemi Ezekiel Bello, condemned the killing and demanded a thorough investigation.

He said, “Dear IGP and stakeholders, kindly investigate the above case, as it was allegedly reported that a man was taking his children to school this morning and some alleged police officers and OYRTMA, while chasing Yahoo boys and others, said while chasing traffic law offenders, started shooting indiscriminately and a bullet hit this little boy and killed him.

“According to the report, it was confirmed that the officers conducted themselves unprofessionally, which led to the death of this little boy whose father said he had been taking care of them and refused to remarry since their mother left 7 years ago.”