A fresh graduate of computer science from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in Ogun State, simply identified as Oke, has been shot dead — hours after he tweeted “Nigeria will not end me”.
Oke’s tweet had come amid the unrest in the country over protests against operatives of the now-disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS) and clamour for comprehensive reform of the police force.
But shortly after the tweet, Oke, who is also a graphic designer, was said to have been shot through the neck while sitting inside his compound at a yet-to-be-identified area in Lagos state on Wednesday.
The deceased was said to have completed his final exams in January and was waiting for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its ongoing strike so as to complete his clearance in preparation for his service year before he breathed his last.
Checks on his page by Newsflash247 showed he had been supporting the ongoing campaign against police brutality in the country.
“Man, I’ve never felt this oppressed in my life. I really thought we had a good shot this one time. #EndSARS,” he had written on Tuesday.
Several Nigerians have taken to Twitter to mourn Oke, while calling on relevant authorities to ensure his killers are brought to book.
Dede, a lady said to be the deceased’s girlfriend, also expressed sadness over the incident, adding that the development had shattered their dreams.
“We had forever to go Oke. What happened to our design dream. My baby didn’t deserve this. I lost my baby, I lost my best friend. Omg my boyfriend…” she wrote in a series of tweets.
Below are reactions from some Nigerians on Twitter:
