A student of Yaba College of Technology, popularly known as YABATECH, has died after he was allegedly struck by gunfire during a military security operation in Lagos.
The deceased, identified as Balogun Sultan, was a National Diploma II student enrolled in the institution’s distance learning programme. According to classmates, Sultan had been on campus for examination-related activities and was returning home when the tragic incident occurred.
Students in the programme explained that their academic structure requires them to visit campus primarily for examinations, preceded by two weeks of in-person lectures. After completing their papers, they typically return home until the next academic session. On the day of the incident, Sultan had reportedly finished a Research Methods assignment and was heading back to Lagos Island, where he resided. He boarded a vehicle from the WAEC bus stop, a route he was said to use regularly.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that soldiers had been deployed to the area following reports of a potential cult clash. During efforts to contain the unrest, gunshots were allegedly fired, and Sultan was reportedly hit by stray bullets while caught in the crossfire.
Videos circulating from the scene captured widespread panic, with residents seen fleeing as gunshots rang out. Bystanders reportedly attempted to administer first aid, using pieces of clothing to stem the bleeding while awaiting further medical assistance.
Sultan was rushed to the Military Hospital in Yaba, where medical personnel carried out emergency chest surgery in a bid to save his life. Despite the intervention, he was later pronounced dead.
The incident has thrown the campus community into mourning. Fellow students described Sultan as calm, focused, and respectful, noting that he was dedicated to completing his studies and largely kept to himself.
His death has left lecture halls subdued, with grief and disbelief replacing the usual academic discussions, as friends and colleagues struggle to come to terms with the loss of a promising young student.
