16-Year-Old Mustapha Killed by Stray Bullet in Ebute Metta

 

What was intended to be a day of hope and healing in the Oyingbo area of Ebute Metta, Lagos, ended in heartbreak as a 16-year-old boy named Mustapha lost his life to a stray bullet — a grim reminder of the very violence the community was rallying against.

On Monday, April 21, local youths gathered for a peace walk — a bold stand against cult clashes and violence that have plagued the area. The event aimed to foster unity, sending a message that enough is enough. But just moments after the walk ended, that message was drowned out by gunfire.

According to eyewitnesses, a heated argument broke out among participants. Tensions rose, and in a sudden turn of events, a suspected cultist drew a firearm and began shooting indiscriminately into the crowd.

Mustapha, a quiet and well-mannered teen who had joined the walk to support the cause, was struck by a stray bullet. He was rushed to the hospital but tragically died en route. One of the event’s organizers was also critically injured during the chaos.

“He wasn’t a gang member. Mustapha was just there to show support. He was such a calm, respectful boy,” a shaken resident shared anonymously.

The shooting sent shockwaves through the neighborhood, plunging the community into fear and mourning. What was meant to be a step taoward peace became a painful example of how fragile that peace still is.

As residents call for justice and accountability, Mustapha’s death stands as a sobering symbol — a young life lost, not in the midst of crime, but while standing for peace.

Rest in peace, Mustapha.