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A private nursery and primary school around Idi-omo, Ajobo area in Akinyele local government area of Oyo state was on Wednesday thrown into confusion after a bullet hit a five year old pupil in the head.
The bullet allegedly strayed from a nearby army shooting range. The school is located within the Ojoo axis of the state and shares proximity with the 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantoment, Ibadan.
The 2 Div is was gathered is currently holding her annual range classification which the army said would run from July 10 – 17, 2017.
Reports said the unnamd boy was seated in his classroom with other pupils when the bullet pierced through the roof of the classroom and hit him on the head.
A look round the school premises showed bullet holes on some of the building’s walls and roof, including the school’s creche.
Officials of the school who pleaded anonymity confirmed the incident but reported that immediately the incident happened, the boy was taken to the army hospital inside the cantonment where he is undergoing treatment.
Officials of the 2Div were said to have visited the school upon the report by the school management and community leaders, to access the situation, take photographs and collect the bullet shells.
According to a source, the community had some time ago won a court case against the Command, to stop the annual shooting range in the area.
It was also gathered that since the shooting range started on Monday, members of the community had been going to the authourities of the Command to report that stray bullets were hitting their roofs but were challenged by the Army to provide evidence.
Deputy Director Army Public Relations of the army division, Col Ezindu Idima, in his reaction to the incident, said that the range was within the premises of the division, adding that the General Officer Commanding, Maj Gen Chukwunedum Abraham, had ordered investigation into the allegation.
His words: “The 2017 annual range classification started at the division on July 10, 2017. The exercise will end on July 17, 2017. The range we use is located within the barracks; we did not start using the range today. Before the commencement of the exercise, we sent out press release informing communities around about the exercise and to steer clear of the range area.
“The distance between the range and the nearest community is about 2000 meters. The effective range of the weapon we are using is about 300 meters. I don’t know how it will go beyond 2000 meters to the extent of destroying lives and property. The GOC has however ordered investigation of the matter.”