A final-year Public Administration student at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), Isma’il Magaji, has been killed by a stray bullet in his hometown of Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The tragic incident occurred after sporadic gunfire erupted during a local land dispute involving a military task force. Magaji had returned to his community after an indefinite strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over unresolved financial matters halted his final examinations, which were originally scheduled to begin on September 5, 2026. After waiting on campus for two weeks in hopes of a resolution, he ultimately decided to travel home.
His colleague Ahmed Yakassai noted that the promising young student made the fatal decision to travel back after the industrial action lingered, returning home only to lose his life.
In an official statement, the Deputy Registrar of Information at IBBUL, Baba Akote, stated 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.”
While extending his sympathies to the family and university community, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Sulaiman, called the loss deeply distressing and painful. “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. The Vice-Chancellor further appealed to the warring factions to choose peaceful resolution and dialogue over violence to avoid further bloodshed.
Paying tribute to his classmate, Yahaya Lawal lamented that the 400-level student ought to have been sitting for his examinations to prepare for his future rather than losing his life to security personnel tasked with protecting citizens. “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. May Allah forgive Ismail Ishaq Magaji all his shortcomings, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus, and give his family the strength to bear this unbearable loss,” Lawal wrote.
The Niger State Police Command declined to give detailed comment on the land conflict, though spokesman Wasiu Abiodun maintained that police personnel were not responsible for firing the bullet that killed the student.