The bereaved father of 13-year-old Kehinde Odunayo, Alade Odunayo, has again spoken out after his son was shot and killed by a policeman in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The incident which occurred on a day when Odunayo was driving his son and other children to take a WAEC examination had led to widespread reactions during the week.
According to Odunayo, the trouble began when officers of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) attempted to stop him, allegedly hitting his vehicle with their own.
Odunayo claimed he drove off to avoid delaying his son’s examination, but was unaware that policemen were accompanying the OYRTMA officers.
In the ensuing chase, a policeman shot Kehinde, who was sitting in the vehicle. Odunayo disputed claims that his car’s windows were tinted, stating that only the rear window had tinted glass, allowing the officers to see the children inside.
In an interview with PUNCH, Odunayo demanded justice for his son’s death, questioning why driving against traffic warranted such a brutal response from the police.
“Driving against traffic is not enough for police to kill my 13-year-old son,” Odunayo said, emphasising the need for accountability.
“My son was innocent, he was just a passenger. Why should he be killed like that? What did he do to deserve death? I want to know who the killer is. His identity should be revealed. I want justice for my son.”
The grieving father expressed frustration and sadness over the incident, saying, “I am still in shock. I don’t know how I will live with this pain. My son was my joy, my everything. Why should he be taken away from me like this?”
The Oyo State Police Command had said it launched an investigation into the incident, with the police commissioner reportedly visiting the scene.
The body of the deceased remains with the state government, pending further investigation and arrangements for burial.
Odunayo’s demand for justice echoes the sentiments of many who are calling for increased police accountability and an end to police brutality.
“The police should be our friends, our protectors. But in this case, they killed my son. It’s a tragedy that should not have happened,” he said. (SaharaReporters)
