How stray bullet killed Niger varsity 400-level student

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Isma’il Magaji was preparing to sit for his final examinations at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, IBBUL, Niger State when a stray bullet cut short his life.

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According to reliable sources, a dispute over a piece of land in his Wawa community, in Borgu Kingdom, New Bussa Local Government Area allegedly led to sporadic shootings by a military task force which accidentally hit him, leading to the cause of his death.

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Arewa PUNCH learnt that Magaji was within the university premises studying for the examinations when the school’s Academic Staff Union of University resolved to embark on an indefinite strike over some unsettled financial matters.

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The late student was expected to sit for his final examination from September 5, 2026, when the ASUU strike declaration put a hold on the examination process.

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Following the Indefinite strike by the IBBUL Academic Staff Union of University, Magaji was compelled to return home after waiting for two weeks to see if the strike would be called off.

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“When the strike was not called off the student, described by his colleagues as a humble, calm and promising young man decided to go home because of the Indefinite strike. That was a fatal move. He did not return to the school alive,” one of his colleagues, Ahmed Yakassai told our correspondent.

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The IBBUL Deputy Registrar, Information, Baba Akote, in an issued statement remarked that, “Magaji, a student in the Department of Public Administration, lost his life after he was hit by a stray bullet during a land dispute in his hometown, Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.”

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Akote quoted the Vice-Chancellor of IBBUL, Prof. Mohammed Sulaiman, as extending condolences to the deceased’s family, friends, classmates, and associates.

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Sulaiman said “the incident was distressing and a painful loss to the entire university community.

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“We extend our condolences to the deceased’s family, friends, classmates, and associates. May Allah forgive Ismail Ishaq Magaji all his shortcomings, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus, and give his family the strength to bear this unbearable loss,” he added.

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The VC appealed to the communities involved in the dispute “to embrace dialogue, exercise restraint and prioritise peaceful coexistence to prevent further loss of lives and unnecessary bloodshed.”

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A course mate Yahaya Lawal, in a condolence message wrote: “Ismail Ishaq Magaji, was a promising 400-level student of Public Administration at IBBU, should have been in the classroom preparing for his examinations and future in order to contribute to the development of the society.

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“We will surely miss his gentility, calmness, gravity and simplicity, he was a very friendly person, very accommodating, it’s very unfortunate and worrisome that he was killed by those paid to protect us in the society.

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“May Allah forgive Ismail Ishaq Magaji all his shortcomings, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus, and give his family the strength to bear this unbearable loss.”

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Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command declined to make any categorical comments on the land dispute and the stray bullet that killed Magaji.

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The spokesman of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, only insisted that the police did not shoot the stray bullet that killed Ismail Magaji.

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