Teenager Fatally Shot While Attempting To Retrieve Football During School Break
NIGERIA – A tragic shooting during a school sports break has claimed the life of 19-year-old Paul, a secondary school student from Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Paul passed away on Thursday, two days after undergoing surgery at Specialist Hospital in Umuguma, where he had been treated for gunshot injuries.
The family had hope for his recovery but ultimately faced heartbreak when complications led to his death.
The incident occurred last week when Paul, a JSS 1 student at Urban Secondary School, climbed a fence to retrieve a football that had landed in the premises of Par Excellence School, owned by the alleged shooter.
The landlord, reportedly armed with a pump-action gun, fired two shots, striking Paul in the leg and buttocks.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, fellow students and bystanders rushed to Paul’s aid, quickly taking him to the hospital.
Despite being rushed to the hospital, the teenager succumbed to complications following surgery.
Punch reported that Paul’s father, Mr. Jonathan Odikanwa, confirmed the heartbreaking news, saying, “My son has passed away. Even after the surgery yesterday, we were hopeful. My boy, who had lived with me for over seven years, is gone.”
The Imo State Police Command, represented by DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed the suspect’s arrest and announced ongoing investigations into the incident.
