The Oyo State Police Command has expressed deep regret over the tragic killing of 14-year-old Kehinde Alade, a WAEC candidate, who was shot during a traffic enforcement operation in Ibadan. The Command said it mistook the boy’s father, Odunayo Alade, who was driving the car, for a criminal or a kidnapper due to his actions during the incident.
According to an official statement issued on Tuesday by the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Adewale Osifeso, the incident happened on the morning of May 20, 2025, around 7:45 am, at the Airport Roundabout along Alakia-Adelubi/Airport Road in Egbeda Local Government Area of Ibadan. The operation was carried out by a joint team of officers from the Oyo State Police Command and the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA).
The police explained that the vehicle, a black Honda Accord with Lagos registration number FST 639 JJ, driven by Mr. Alade, was flagged down for driving against traffic. Instead of stopping, the driver allegedly accelerated, crashed into two OYTMA vehicles and a police patrol truck, and continued to flee. Officers said they became suspicious that the driver may have been involved in criminal activity or a possible kidnapping, given the reckless nature of his escape.
As part of the effort to stop the fleeing vehicle, the police set up barricades, which Mr. Alade allegedly broke through. In response, one of the police officers fired a shot aimed at the car’s tyres to immobilize it. Tragically, the bullet missed its target and struck young Kehinde Alade, who was seated in the back seat behind his father. He was rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH) but was confirmed dead on arrival. His body has been taken to Adeoyo State Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
Read Also: Oyo Govt: Father of WASSCE Student Killed by Stray Bullet Was Driving Against Traffic
The Oyo State Police Command has since launched a full investigation into the incident. The officer who fired the fatal shot has been taken into custody, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) is leading the inquiry. The Command said all involved officers are cooperating and promised that the findings of the investigation will be made public.
The case of the WAEC candidate killed in Ibadan has sparked public outcry, prompting the Commissioner of Police, CP Johnson Adenola, to immediately deploy tactical units and the Police Mobile Force (PMF) to the scene and other key locations in the city to prevent unrest and maintain peace.
In its statement, the police expressed deep condolences to the family of Kehinde Alade and assured the public of their commitment to justice and transparency. They also encouraged the public to contact emergency numbers in case of distress or incidents requiring police attention.
This tragic case of a WAEC candidate killed in Ibadan has raised fresh concerns about police engagement protocols and the consequences of misjudged enforcement actions. As the investigation unfolds, many are calling for greater accountability and training for security officers on how to handle similar situations more humanely.
