The Oyo State Government on Tuesday disclosed that the father of the student killed by a stray bullet fired by a police officer while on his way to sit for a West African Senior School Certificate Examination along the Alakia Road in Ibadan, the state capital, was driving against traffic when the cop fired a shot at the vehicle’s tyre, which accidentally hit and killed the boy.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, on Tuesday.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the student was heading to the examination centre to sit for the ongoing WASSCE organised by the West African Examination Council in Ibadan, the state capital, when the incident happened.
Multiple sources claimed that a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer in pursuit of a suspect killed the student.
One of the sources, simply identified as Ajani, said, “A police officer opened fire while chasing a fleeing vehicle. One of the bullets reportedly hit the student. The student was riding on a motorcycle with his father and twin brother.
“The victim was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.”
Another witness said, “The deceased was on his way to the examination centre alongside his twin brother when the tragedy happened.”
Following the incident, irate youths took the student’s lifeless body to the state Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, to demand justice and called on Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene. The deceased’s body was subsequently deposited at the Adeoyo Hospital morgue.
Explaining the circumstances behind the incident, Olanrewaju noted that the police team, alongside members of the Oyo State Road Traffic Maintenance Authority, were conducting a routine enforcement when they encountered the man driving against traffic.
He noted that in an attempt to evade arrest for driving against traffic, he was accosted by the officers, and one of the officers shot at the vehicle’s tyre, but the shot missed the target and hit the student.
He stated, “The state government clarifies that contrary to claims that the incident occurred while the police were chasing a suspected Internet fraudster, the incident occurred during a routine operation against traffic infraction, carried out by men of the Oyo State Road Traffic Maintenance Authority.”
Olanrewaju stated, “According to the government, OYRTMA officials, in conjunction with a team from the police, embarked on the traffic operation on Alakia Old Road following complaints from residents over constant one-way traffic violations that have led to deaths and life-threatening injuries on the axis.
“The government maintained that the father of the slain boy drove a tinted black Honda Accord car with registration number FST 639 JU against the traffic at around 7.30 a.m.
“It noted that it was during an attempt to apprehend the traffic offender that a policeman, who is already being investigated by the Oyo State Police Command, allegedly aimed a shot at one of the tyres of the car, which missed the target.”
Olanrewaju noted that the government commiserated with the deceased student’s family, adding that it would work with the police to ensure that justice is served in the matter.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and avoid traffic violations.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students has called for a probe into the killing of the student.
Reacting to the incident in a statement on Tuesday, the NANS National Public Relations Officer, Samson Adeyemi, said it was “deeply saddened and outraged by the tragic killing of a secondary school student in Oyo State by a police officer.”
NANS described the incident as a “reckless and senseless violation” of the sanctity of human life.
The students’ spokesperson called for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident while condoling with the deceased’s family.
He stated, “We call for an immediate, thorough, and independent investigation into the incident to uncover the truth and ensure that justice is served without fear or favour.
“The officer responsible for this heinous act must be apprehended without delay and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Accountability is non-negotiable, and we will not accept anything less.
“Furthermore, we demand that the bereaved family be adequately compensated for their irreplaceable loss. While no amount of compensation can replace the life taken, it remains a crucial step toward acknowledging the family’s pain and holding the responsible parties accountable.”
He also urged the state government to ensure the incident does not degenerate into unrest.
“The loss of innocent lives due to unchecked brutality by some law enforcement officers has become an alarming trend that must stop immediately. NANS remains committed to advocating for the safety, dignity, and well-being of Nigerian students and citizens at large.
“We appeal to all students and members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding as we collectively pursue justice for the deceased and his family. Together, we will ensure that this tragedy does not go unanswered, and we will work tirelessly to prevent future occurrences,” Adeyemi concluded.
The spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, has yet to respond to calls and messages sent to his line as of the time of filing this report.(Punch)
