YABATECH student shooting leaves Sultan Balogun Owolabi dead after suspected cultists attacked him near WAEC Bus Stop in Ebute Metta, Lagos

A student of Yaba College of Technology, Sultan Balogun Owolabi, has been shot dead by suspected cultists near the institution’s vicinity in Ebute Metta, Lagos State.

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The fatal attack occurred at about 4pm on Tuesday at WAEC Bus Stop in Ebute Metta, where the victim was reportedly attempting to board a commercial bus.

A witness who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons said three young men approached the student and opened fire at close range before fleeing the scene.

“Balogun was about to board a bus when about three young men approached him and shot him in the stomach. They immediately fled the scene and left him for dead,” the source said.

The sudden violence triggered panic in the busy area, as traders and passersby reportedly ran for safety following the gunshots.

Initial reports surrounding the YABATECH student shooting were conflicting, with some suggesting the attackers were suspected cultists, while others speculated that military personnel might have been involved.

An anti-cultism advocacy platform, Confra Naija, called for a thorough investigation on Wednesday after claiming that a cult group had allegedly taken responsibility for the attack.

“The Nigerian Military needs to investigate claims that some personnel may have been involved in an attack earlier claimed by the Eiye (ACN) cult group.

A full and transparent investigation is necessary to determine who was responsible for the killing of Balogun Sultan, an innocent student with no cult affiliation,” the platform stated.

A video circulating on X showed the victim bleeding as friends and bystanders hurriedly rushed him to a nearby medical facility in a desperate attempt to save his life.

While the spokesperson for Yaba College of Technology, Adekunle Adams, initially denied that the victim was a student of the institution, the Lagos State Police Command later confirmed his identity.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said the command received a report of the shooting at about 4pm on March 3, 2026.

“The command confirms a shooting incident at WAEC Bus Stop, Ebute Metta, at about 4pm on 3rd March 2026. Two victims were rushed to the 68 Military Hospital for treatment.

One of them, Balogun Sultan Owolabi, a student of Yaba College of Technology, was later confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,” Adebisi said.

Police authorities added that investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

The YABATECH student shooting has heightened concerns over cult-related violence in parts of Lagos, despite ongoing security operations aimed at curbing the menace.

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The incident follows another deadly episode near the institution in August 2025, when security operatives arrested seven suspects after a student of the college was killed in a suspected cult-related attack close to the school’s back gate