The Oyo State Police Command said its personnel that shot at the vehicle, which led to the death of 14-year-old secondary school student, Kehinde Alade, on Tuesday, thought the driver of the vehicle was a kidnapper because of his behaviour.
The teenager was shot dead in the early hours of Tuesday at the Gbagi area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, when his father drove against the traffic and tried to evade arrest, resulting in the shooting of the vehicle by a police officer.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, CSP Osifeso Adewale, in a statement Tuesday evening, explained that an enforcement team comprising the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA) and the Police, attempted to stop the black Honda Accord car with registration number LAGOS FST 639 JJ driven by Odunayo Alade, father of the deceased, when the incident happened.
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The Police said Mr Alade was found to be driving against traffic (one-way) at approximately 07:45am along the Airport Roundabout, Alakia-Adelubi/Airport Road in Egbeda local government area of the state where he was stopped but he ignored the officers’ lawful directive.
“Rather than complying with lawful directives, the driver allegedly accelerated towards the enforcement team in an attempt to evade arrest, ramming into two OYTMA vehicles and a Police Buffalo Patrol truck.
“In an effort to prevent further damage and harm to officers and other road users, barricades were set up to demobilise the fleeing vehicle.
“However, the driver reportedly broke through these barricades, continuing to drive recklessly and endangering lives.
“Given the nature of the driver’s conduct, officers suspected possible criminal activity or a case of abduction. A police chase ensued. In an attempt to immobilise the vehicle, a police corporal discharged a firearm aimed at the tyres.
“Tragically, the bullet missed and struck Kehinde Alade ‘m’, who was seated in the rear seat behind the driver. He was immediately rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), where he was confirmed dead on arrival. The deceased’s body has been deposited at the Adeoyo State Hospital mortuary for autopsy and preservation,” Osifeso explained.
The Police spokesman added that following the ugly incident and to forestall any threat to public peace, the Commissioner of Police, CP Johnson Adenola, immediately deployed tactical and intelligence units, including the Police Mobile Force (PMF) to the scene and other strategic locations in Ibadan.
“This swift response restored calm, ensured public safety, and allowed for normal activities to resume,” he added.
Meanwhile, CP Adenola has ordered a comprehensive investigation led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to unravel the incident.
Police confirmed that the officer who shot at the vehicle has been taken into custody alongside other members of the team who were cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation.
The Command assured the public that the process will be transparent and findings of the exercise made public.
The Command extended its deepest condolences to the family of Kehinde Alade, expressing its resolute commitment to upholding justice and ensuring accountability, pledging that further updates will be communicated as the investigation progresses.
Also, reacting to the incident, the Oyo State House of Assembly said it began Tuesday’s plenary on a somber note over the teenager’s death with a call on the State Police Command to probe the incident.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, who disclosed this on his Facebook page, wrote: “We began today’s plenary session on a somber note, paying tribute to a young student who lost his life to a stray bullet allegedly from a police officer.
“In a Matter of Urgent Public Importance, we sympathised with the family of the boy and urged the Police authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure justice is served.
“There was an appeal to the Inspector General of Police to issue clear directives prohibiting reckless use of firearms in public places, and to ensure officers undergo regular training in responsible crowd and suspect management.”
