Kwara State police shot him on Wednesday evening; he died on Thursday morning.

Qoyum Abdulyekeen Ishola, a Kwara State Polytechnic student, would probably still be alive if a police officer had not fired a shot that hit him around the Agric axis of Ilorin on Wednesday evening.

Ishola was a National Diploma (ND) 2 student of the Electrical Engineering department. FIJ learnt that he was out to purchase an item around 5.00 pm on that day when some policemen harassed him.

A student source, who does not want to be named, told FIJ that Ishola was trying to run from the policemen harassing him when an officer’s gun was discharged, and it hit him in the ensuing chaos.

A 10-second video sighted by FIJ shows a gut-wrenching open wound in the deceased student’s arm, pierced by a bullet.

Qoyum Abdulyekeen Ishola.

“He was rushed to the hospital, where they attended to him immediately to save his life,” the source said.

“They said he was placed on Oxygen. But early on Thursday morning, he was announced dead. Police shot him on Wednesday evening; he died on Thursday morning.”

According to FIJ’s source, Kwara Poly students are angry and ready to protest the police brutality unleashed on Ishola. “But the Students’ Union is not ready to lead a protest, so everyone is just observing.

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“I learnt that a police vehicle was parked in front of our school gate with police inside on Friday morning. I don’t know what they’re looking for. Maybe they think we wanted to protest.

“I haven’t heard anything from the school management. It’s only the Student Union Government (SUG) members who addressed us, saying they have meetings with the deputy commissioner of police and they’re telling us that the investigation is still going on.”

Qoyum’s bullet-pierced hand

Meanwhile, according to the student source and another resident living close to the school area, there has been a long-standing battle between policemen and Kwara Poly students.

FIJ gathered that these policemen were fond of extorting students under the guise that they were involved in cybercrimes.

“In April, the school management told us that they had written letters to the commissioner of police and that there would be changes regarding the extortion of students. But about two weeks after, people started complaining about police extortion again,” said the student source.

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Speaking on Ishola’s tragic demise, the resident told FIJ said: “I learnt that in the process of the guy running from the gunshot fired by the police, he was hit. It was around Agric Estate roundabout, after Maraba Garage.

“Some are saying the police chased him till he had an accident. Some are saying he got an accident.”

He noted that Kwara Poly students are, undoubtedly, unhappy about the incident. And he fears that a riot might erupt among the aggrieved students, given the years of police brutality against them.

“Right from time, Kwara Poly students have always been arrested by the police, claiming they are Yahoo and all of that. As a resident, I am concerned because we know what students can do, especially the Kwara Poly students.

“They are deadly when it comes to student riots. Traders are panicking, but the police said they are on it. So, we don’t know what might happen next.”

On Thursday, Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, the police public relations officer wrote on X: “The Kwara State Police Command is aware of an unfortunate incident leading to the death of Qoyum Abdulyekeen Ishola.

“A thorough investigation is currently underway the public will be updated as soon as possible. We appeal to the concerned students & family to remain calm, as justice will be served and the truth will be uncovered in due time.”

The police PRO could not be reached for updates on the issue, as she did not answer her call or respond to the message sent to her on Friday.

Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, the Kwara Poly rector, did not answer his call as well, and the message sent to him had also not been responded to at the time of publication.

Abimbola Abatta is a reporter with FIJ, writing reports in partnership with Report for the World which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.
The post How Kwara Police Sent Poly Student Qoyum Abdulyekeen to an Early Grave appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.