How soldier fatally shot student in Lagos
A Nigerian soldier has allegedly fatally shot a student of the Yaba College of Technology during a security operation in Lagos, triggering outrage and grief among classmates and residents.
The victim, identified as Balogun Sultan, was an ND II student enrolled in the institution’s distance learning programme.
According to colleagues, he had only come to campus to sit for his examinations and complete academic formalities before returning home.
Classmates explained that their programme runs largely online, with physical presence required mainly during examination periods.
“We attend lectures virtually for most of the semester,” one student said.
“Exams are the only time we gather physically, and that was why he was on campus.”
After writing their papers, Sultan and a few colleagues reportedly stayed back to submit a Research Methods assignment.
Shortly afterwards, he left the premises, intending to head back to his residence on Lagos Island.
Witnesses said the fatal encounter occurred near the busy WAEC bus stop in Yaba, a major transit point often crowded with commuters and students.
The area, located close to the office of the West African Examinations Council, is typically bustling throughout the day.
Security sources indicated that soldiers had been deployed following intelligence suggesting a possible cult-related disturbance in the vicinity. In the course of that operation, gunfire erupted.
“There was tension in the air because security operatives were trying to prevent a clash,” a resident said.
“Unfortunately, a stray bullet hit the student while he was heading home. He was not part of any unrest.”
Eyewitnesses described a sudden wave of panic as people fled in different directions. Amid the confusion, bystanders reportedly tried to stem the bleeding and keep Sultan conscious until help arrived.
He was rushed to the Military Hospital in Yaba, where medical personnel carried out emergency procedures in an attempt to stabilise him. Despite those efforts, he was later pronounced dead.
News of his death has cast a shadow over the YABATECH community. Friends portrayed him as reserved and academically committed.
“He was focused on finishing his programme,” a classmate said. “Nobody imagined that an ordinary exam day would end like this.”
Moreover, students have begun raising concerns about safety around campus corridors during security operations.
Some questioned whether adequate caution was exercised before live rounds were discharged in a densely populated environment.
As of press time, military authorities had not released an official statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
However, calls for a transparent investigation have intensified, with students and civil society voices demanding accountability.
The incident adds to ongoing conversations about civilian safety during armed deployments in urban centres. For Sultan’s family and peers, however, the debate is overshadowed by an irreparable loss.