The Oyo State Police command during a press briefing today held a minute silence in honour of the innocent teenager, Kehinde Alade killed by a police officer’s bullet in the Alakia Area of Ibadan yesterday.
Recall that the young boy who was in his father’s vehicle on his way to write the West African Examinations Examinations (WAEC) was tragically killed by a police officer (name withheld) when the combined men of the Nigerian Police Force and personnel of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority, OYRTMA, were trying to apprehend the victim’s father for merely violating traffic offence.
The boy was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival which prompted irate youths to protest by conveying the corpse to the Governor’s office in Ibadan.
During the press release, the police lumped the blame of the victim’s death on the bereaved’s father claiming that he drove against traffic, violated traffic rules and recklessly tried to evade arrests by the officers.
The police also said that the bereaved’s father had violated traffic rules in the past and paid fine according to information from OYRTMA. They criticized the bereaved’s father’s uncivilized behaviour and maneuverings.
He added that “the father of the deceased student, Mr. Odunayo Alade, had previously been apprehended for traffic violation which caused him to pay a fine at the time and this sad incident portrays him as a serial offender.”
However, the Oyo State Police command during the press conference were reportedly silent on the killer policeman. No further updates was given on his whereabouts, investigation and possible prosecution.
Meanwhile, concerns has been raised by the public as to the justification of the killing of the young boy on the slightest provocation that the father violated traffic law. Some have raised the alarm as to Police unprofessional conduct and brutality against innocent, unarmed citizens.
In some quarters, the police have also been berated for not outrightly condemning the use of live ammunition in civilian domains by police officers to avert human casualties.
Despite blaming the bereaved’s father and others, Nigerians eagerly awaits justice for the late teenager, Kehinde Alade whose dreams and aspirations were cut short by a police bullet.