A student in Senior Secondary School 2 at Gsakiya College, Ijora area of Lagos state, Saka Ahmed, has stabbed a senior student to death.

The unfortunate incident happened on Wednesday when Ahmed whose nickname is Ejo (Snake) stabbed and killed 19-year-old Saheed Jimoh, Punch reports. Jimoh, who was a school prefect, had punished Ejo the previous day for an offence which had yet to be ascertained. They were said to have fought each other outside the school premises after the closing time.

It is reported that Jimoh was about entering the school on Wednesday when Ejo, said to have been lurking around a food canteen near the school, rushed at him and stabbed him in the chest with a knife. He then fled the scene leaving Jimoh lying in his own blood. Jimoh was taken to a private hospital nearby but shortly after his arrival, he died. The incident was reported at the Amukoko Police Division.

The deceased’s uncle, Mr. Shakiru Oluayo, who lives on Adejiyan Street, Amukoko area, said Jimoh’s mother had brought him to Lagos 10 years ago to enable him continue his studies. He also said his nephew had not wanted to go to school that fateful day but had later changed his mind because he did not want to miss his science practical class. Oluayo who said that Jimoh’s mother was still in the dark about her son’s death recounted the following,

“Saheed (Jimoh) was a school prefect. I do not know what happened between him and the boy (Ejo) that made Saheed to punish him. He was supposed to be in SS3 like Saheed but he had to repeat a class. I learnt that as my nephew was coming to school that morning, the boy was waiting for him at a food canteen near the school gate. He attacked him all of a sudden and stabbed him in the chest. For the past 10 years he had been living with me, he was easy-going and decent and all our neighbours can attest to that. In fact, he did not want to go to school on that fateful day but he later said he would go so as not to miss a practical class he was to have because he was a science student.”

An eyewitness, Kayode Aderibigbe, said that it was too late for Jimoh to scamper to safety by the time he knew Ejo was after him,

“He (Ejo) had been waiting for Jimoh. He brought out a knife from his bag. Saheed ran when he saw him with the knife but Ejo chased him and stabbed him. I followed the pupils who rushed him to the hospital but he was confirmed dead on arrival. The police can trace Ejo.”

While neither the school principal nor teachers could be reached for comments about the sad occurrence, a mechanic in the area, who identified himself only as Joshua, said he saw Jimoh and Ejo fighting on Tuesday.

“I was there when they were fighting yesterday (on Tuesday) after they closed from school but I did not really know what led to it. In my observation, Jimoh subdued him during the fight. I guess he (Ejo) later went to attack him with a weapon since he could not win in a fair fight.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor, confirmed the incident saying a manhunt had been launched for the suspect.