Academic activities in Gaskiya College in the Ijora area of Lagos State were paralysed last Wednesday after a student
Saka Ahmed who was in SS 2, allegedly killed his schoolmate, 19-year-old Saheed Jimoh, who was in SS 3, in front of their school gate.
The murder suspect Saka reportedly fled the scene, leaving Jimoh for dead in a pool of blood. In a new report by Punch, Saka Ahmed, who was later arrested by the police, has told his own side of the story and says he committed the act after a prank went awry.
Ahmed, 19, claimed he had joked that a teacher was coming after them, after they both arrived late to school. He said the prank angered the victim, adding that he (Jimoh) attacked him and it was during a brawl he pushed him. The 19-year-old reportedly hit his chest against a concrete slab and died moments after he was rushed to a private hospital.
Ahmed said he had been friends with the victim since they were in their first year in secondary school. He said:
“Jimoh and I have been friends since JSS 1. We remained friends even after I repeated SS2 and he became my senior.
"On that fateful day, at about 8am I was with him and Ibrahim Mohammed, another friend. We got late to school and I told them to wait outside and allow me to go and check what was going on.
“I peeped through the gate and saw there was no teacher, except one prefect. But I deceived them into thinking that a teacher was coming and they started running.
“I then laughed and said it was a joke. Jimoh became angry and he started chasing after me.”
He said he waited for him and as the victim charged at him, he pushed him. The Kwara State indigene explained that his friend fell on his chest on the edge of a gutter and blood was gushing out of his body.
He rushed his injured friend to the hospital where the doctor pronounced him dead. The families of the two boys are currently deliberating to settle the matter out of court.