Ibadan Traditional Council condemned the reckless use of firearms in civilian areas, urged security agencies to retrain and sensitise their personnel on the responsible handling of firearms and the need for utmost caution and professionalism in the discharge of their duties
The Egbeda Local Government Traditional Council in Ibadan, Oyo State, has called on the Nigerian Police authorities to urgently retrain and sensitise their personnel on the proper and responsible handling of firearms.
In a strongly worded appeal issued on Wednesday, the council emphasised the importance of exercising the highest level of caution and professionalism in the discharge of police duties, particularly condemning the indiscriminate use of firearms in civilian areas.
This call was made through an official statement released by the Acting Chairman of the Egbeda Traditional Council and representative of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Sharafadeen Alli. The statement was issued in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The statement follows a tragic incident in which a student lost his life to a stray bullet allegedly discharged by a police officer on Tuesday morning.
The student was on his way to an examination centre to sit for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), organised by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), when the incident occurred along Gbagi Market Road in Ibadan.
High Chief Sharafadeen Alli, who also holds the title of Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland, described the tragic incident as a devastating and irreplaceable loss—not only to the immediate family of the deceased, but to the entire traditional council and society at large.
He lamented that such tragedies threaten the future of the community and called for justice and systemic reform to prevent further occurrences.
High Chief Alli said, “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.
“As a council, we condemn in strong terms the reckless use of firearms in civilian areas, particularly in school zones and residential communities.
“The life of every citizen, especially our children, must be treated as sacred. It is unacceptable that a child, filled with dreams and potential, would be cut down in such a senseless and avoidable manner.
“Furthermore, we urge security agencies to retrain and sensitise their personnel on the responsible handling of firearms and the need for utmost caution and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
High Chief Alli urged the Nigeria Police and relevant authorities to conduct a transparent investigation into the incident, identify and prosecute the officer involved, and ensure compensation for the bereaved family.
Speaking on behalf of the Olubadan and the Council, he expressed sympathy to the family and school, stressing that no operation justifies the loss of an innocent life.