I want those responsible to be held accountable. Their mother left us seven years ago. I didn’t remarry. I have vowed to give my children the best life possible.
The father of the 14-year-old boy fatally shot by police in Ibadan, Oyo State, Odunayo Alade, has expressed outrage over the tragic loss of his son, Kehinde Alade.
The incident occurred during a high-speed police chase along Gbagi Market Road, where a secondary school student named Taiwo was reportedly struck by a stray bullet fired by an unidentified police officer. The chase involved law enforcement and traffic officials pursuing a suspected vehicle believed to be carrying internet fraudsters, commonly known as ‘Yahoo boys.’
Recalling the terrifying event, Alade explained why he was driving against traffic at the time. Speaking to reporters who visited his home, he said, “I take my children to school every day, and if I have time, I pick them up in the afternoon. There were about five children in the car that day. Some were headed to Olatundun, others to Olabidan.
“When I left the house, I needed to pump the tire at a nearby junction. After the vulcaniser finished, I got into the car to leave, and as I moved, I saw a car coming towards me. I didn’t realize it was from the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority.”
He continued, “When I saw them, I tried to move on, but they attempted to stop me and ended up hitting my car. I then reversed to get past them, not knowing that four vehicles were chasing me. When their towing vehicle hit my car, I managed to maneuver and escape.
“Then I heard a gunshot. My son was calling out ‘Daddy, daddy’ from the back seat, but I cautioned him to stay quiet as we left the scene. I had no idea a stray bullet had hit him until his twin brother shouted, ‘Daddy, stop! Taiwo has been shot.”
When asked if he was a suspect in the incident, Alade firmly denied it, explaining, “One of the officials opened the back door and saw there were children in the vehicle. I had no idea they were chasing Yahoo boys. I was simply taking my children to school.”
He added, “It was his older brother who was writing his WAEC exams. The boy who was shot was in SS1 and was due to turn 14 on November 26.”
Alade also revealed that he and his wife have been separated for seven years. He said, “Their mother left us seven years ago. Since then, I have vowed to give my children the best life possible. I’ve worked tirelessly to provide for them, often sacrificing my own needs.
“I have even turned down chances to remarry because I wanted to focus on raising my kids. I wonder which woman would accept me and my situation without putting their own well-being at risk.”
Alade made a heartfelt plea for justice. “This cannot go unpunished. I want those responsible to be held accountable. No parent should endure the pain of losing a child in such a senseless way.”
He mourned his son’s bright future: “Kehinde was a bright boy, full of dreams and aspirations. He loved school and was excited about his future. Now, all of that has been stolen from us. I need to understand why this happened.
“My son had so much potential, and it feels incredibly unfair that his life was cut short because of a reckless act by those who are supposed to protect us. I demand answers, and I want to ensure no other family suffers this unbearable loss.”