A tragic incident has shaken the World Bank Housing area of Owerri, Imo State, as a 16-year-old student, Paul, lost his life after being shot by a landlord while trying to retrieve a football from the property owner’s compound.
The heartbreaking event took place on Monday when Paul, a Junior Secondary School (JSS) 1 student at Urban Secondary School in Area N, was playing football with his peers on the school field. When the ball landed inside the landlord’s premises, Paul attempted to retrieve it by jumping over the school fence—an act that reportedly enraged the property owner.
In a shocking response, the landlord allegedly shot Paul in the waist, inflicting severe injuries that led to his immediate hospitalization. Despite undergoing surgery at the Specialist Hospital in Umuguma, Owerri, Paul tragically succumbed to his injuries on Thursday afternoon.
His guardian, Mr. Jonathan Odikanwa, a septuagenarian who had cared for Paul for over seven years, confirmed the devastating loss.
“He has passed away. My son has passed away. The doctors just said they lost him. Even after the surgery yesterday (Wednesday), we had been hopeful that he would come around. My boy, who had lived with me for over seven years, has passed on,” Odikanwa expressed in deep sorrow.
Medical examinations revealed that an X-ray failed to detect the bullet in Paul’s body. However, during surgery, doctors discovered an obstruction in his bowel movements, necessitating the operation. Sadly, the procedure was unable to save his life.
The incident has sparked outrage within the community, with many questioning the landlord’s extreme reaction to a minor incident involving a stray ball.
The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of the landlord. According to DSP Henry Okoye, the Police Public Relations Officer, investigations are ongoing, and the suspect will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Paul’s death has left an irreplaceable void in the lives of those who knew him. He was described as a bright and promising young boy who had been under the care of the Odikanwa family for nearly eight years while pursuing his education.
