Ibadan poly student shot outside lecture hall

There was pandemonium at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, on Tuesday after a student was shot outside a lecture hall within the school premises.

Babatunde Taibat, the ND 1 student of the science laboratory technology department, was thereafter taken to the University College Hospital, Ibadan where she has been receiving treatment for the injury suffered after the incident.

In a statement, the school authorities disclosed that her condition has stabilised while calling for calm among students on campus.

Modupe Fawale, the school’s registrar, also disclosed that an investigation has begun to unravel the circumstances that led to the shooting.

“The authorities of The Polytechnic, Ibadan have appealed to the students of the institution to remain calm as a female student that was shot is responding to treatment at the UCH,” she said.

“The unfortunate incident happened at the sewage area late in the afternoon where a gunshot hit the female student. The female student was immediately rushed to the UCH where first-class medical attention was given to her.

“We appeal to all students and staff to remain calm and abide with all the regulations as investigations have been launched into the source of the gunshot.”

Speaking with TheCable, some students accused the school’s security personnel of firing the shot that hit Taibat.

Abiola, a student of the school who claimed to be Taibat’s friend, said the incident happened at Sewage lecture hall when the school security men attempted to arrest a student.

“A security team from the school stormed the lecture hall to arrest a student on Tuesday and an argument began. Suddenly, there was a gunshot and Taibat was hit. The shot came from the firearm held by one of the security operatives,” she said.

Asked if the school’s security staff are permitted to carry arms, Adewole Soladoye, the school’s spokesman, told TheCable that as long as the arms are licenced by the government, security men also have the right to defend themselves in case they are faced with a situation that threatens their lives.

“The shooting happened outside a lecture hall. We are investigating the source of the shooting. There is no way you will call yourself a surety man (without using firearms) as long as you have licence for it,” he said.

“If you don’t have it (arms) and you are met with superior arms, how will you defend yourself? It has to be licenced and has to be used sparingly and only in a situation where it is extremely necessary to use it.”