A National Diploma II student of Yaba College of Technology has reportedly died after being struck by a stray bullet during a security operation in Lagos.
The student, identified as Balogun Sultan, was enrolled in the institution’s distance learning programme and had been on campus for his examination period. According to classmates, students under the scheme typically attend about two weeks of physical lectures before sitting for their exams and returning home afterward.
On Tuesday, after completing his paper and submitting a Research Methods assignment, he was said to have boarded a vehicle from the WAEC bus stop en route to Lagos Island, where he resided. What began as a routine journey home reportedly turned tragic.
Sources indicated that soldiers had been deployed to the area following reports of a potential cult related clash. During efforts to contain the situation, gunshots were allegedly fired, and the student was said to have been caught in the crossfire.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos, with residents fleeing as gunfire echoed through the area. Some bystanders reportedly attempted to render first aid, using available clothing to stem the bleeding before he was rushed to a medical facility.
He was taken to the Military Hospital in Yaba, where emergency surgery was performed. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he did not survive.
Friends and colleagues described him as quiet, focused, and committed to his studies, noting that he kept to himself and avoided trouble. His death has left the campus community in mourning, with many expressing shock that a day meant for academic pursuit ended in such loss.
As of the time of filing this report, security authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
