The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one of its personnel involved in the tragic shooting of 14-year-old Kehinde Alade, a secondary school student, during a joint traffic enforcement operation in Ibadan on Tuesday morning.
The incident, which occurred around 7:45 a.m., has drawn significant public attention and outrage. According to a statement released by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Adewale Osifeso, the officer who discharged the fatal shot has been taken into custody, alongside members of his enforcement team, as part of an ongoing investigation.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Adebola Hamzat, has ordered a full-scale inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Osifeso noted that the investigation would be led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), and pledged that the process would be thorough, transparent, and open to public scrutiny.
The police spokesperson explained that the operation was carried out in collaboration with officials from the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA). The enforcement team was said to be attempting to apprehend a black Honda Accord vehicle with plate number FST 639 JJ, driven by Mr. Odunayo Alade, the father of the deceased, for allegedly driving against the flow of traffic.
Rather than comply with lawful directives, the driver reportedly accelerated towards the enforcement team in a bid to evade arrest. In the process, the vehicle allegedly rammed into two OYTMA patrol units and a police Buffalo truck. Officers, suspecting foul play or a potential abduction scenario, set up road barricades to halt the vehicle. However, the driver allegedly breached the barriers, continuing to drive in a manner police described as dangerous to both road users and enforcement personnel.
In the ensuing pursuit, a police corporal discharged his firearm in an attempt to demobilise the fleeing vehicle by targeting its tyres. Unfortunately, the bullet missed and struck Kehinde Alade, who was seated in the back seat of the car, directly behind the driver. He was rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The boy’s remains have since been deposited at the Adeoyo State Hospital morgue for autopsy and proper preservation, as investigations continue.
While expressing deep regret over the incident, CSP Osifeso conveyed the police command’s heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and assured the public of the force’s commitment to ensuring justice and accountability. He also reaffirmed that all parties found culpable would be dealt with in accordance with the law, as the police continue to evaluate all evidence surrounding the fatal encounter.
The death of young Kehinde has further stirred concerns about the use of force by security operatives during routine enforcement operations, with citizens calling for stricter oversight, training, and discipline to prevent a recurrence of such avoidable tragedies.
