Soldier Accused of Fatal Shooting of YABATECH Student During Lagos Operation

By Babatunji Wusu

• ND II student Balogun Sultan reportedly hit by stray bullet
• Incident occurred near WAEC bus stop in Yaba
• Family, classmates demand investigation

A Nigerian soldier has been accused of fatally shooting Balogun Sultan, a National Diploma II student of Yaba College of Technology, during a security operation in Lagos.

Sultan, who was enrolled in the institution’s distance learning programme, was said to be returning home after a routine examination when the incident occurred. According to classmates, he had remained briefly on campus to submit an assignment for his Research Methods course before heading out.

Sources alleged that he was struck by stray bullets fired by soldiers deployed to quell a reported cult clash near the WAEC bus stop in Yaba — a typically busy area frequented by students, traders, and commuters. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as gunshots rang out and residents scrambled for safety.

In a video circulating online, Sultan was seen lying in a pool of blood as bystanders attempted to assist him, pressing clothes against his wounds while praying for his survival.

He was rushed to the Military Hospital in Yaba, where doctors reportedly attempted emergency chest surgery. However, he later succumbed to his injuries.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not released an official statement detailing the circumstances surrounding the shooting.