By Peter Omopo
Traditional rulers in Egbeda Local Government Area of Ibadan, Oyo State, have called on the Nigeria Police to retrain and sensitise their officers on the responsible use of firearms, following the tragic killing of a student by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer.
The appeal was made in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Chairman of the Egbeda Traditional Council and representative of the Olubadan, High Chief Sharafadeen Alli, in the wake of the incident that claimed the life of an SSS 3 student.
The student, who was on his way to sit for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), was reportedly hit by a stray bullet during a police pursuit of a traffic offender along Gbagi Market Road, Ibadan, on Tuesday morning.
High Chief Alli, who is also the Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland, described the killing as a tragic and avoidable loss that has shaken the entire traditional council and community.
“We received with deep shock and sorrow the devastating news of the killing of an SSS 3 student by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer during a wild chase of a traffic offender within our community,” the statement read.
He urged the police authorities to take urgent steps to sensitise their personnel on the dangers of indiscriminate firearm use, especially in residential areas and near schools, while advocating for increased professionalism in law enforcement.
The traditional council emphasised the need for a thorough investigation into the incident and called for justice for the victim and his grieving family.
