The Egbeda Local Government Traditional Council has called on the Nigeria Police Force and all relevant authorities to launch a thorough and transparent investigation into the killing of a Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3) student by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer.
The student, Kehinde Paul Alade, a 14-year-old, was killed during a wild chase of a traffic offender around the Gbagi market road in the early hours of Tuesday.
The deceased was said to be on his way to write the examination in the company of his sibling and father when the incident occurred in which the alleged stray was fired by a police officer.
Reacting to the incident, Sharafadeen Alli, a senator and Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland, in a statement, said “as a council, we condemn in strong terms the reckless use of firearms in civilian areas, particularly in school zones and residential communities.
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“The life of every citizen, especially our children, must be treated as sacred. It is unacceptable that a child, filled with dreams and potential, would be cut down in such a senseless and avoidable manner”.
While saying that the officer responsible must be identified and made to face the full wrath of the law, he noted that the unfortunate incident is a tragic loss, not just to the bereaved family, but to the entire traditional council and the future of the society.
Alli, who is also the acting chairman and Representative of the Olubadan, Egbeda Local Government Traditional Council, stated that they also demand that appropriate compensation and support be provided to the bereaved family, whose pain and loss cannot be quantified.
“No pursuit or operation should be worth the life of an innocent citizen. So, on behalf of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakunlehin and the entire Egbeda Local Government Traditional Council, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the grieving family and the school community.
“May the soul of the departed rest in perfect peace, and may such a tragedy never befall our land,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has commiserated with the family of a secondary school boy slain during a Routine Traffic Infraction Operation on Alakia Old Road, Ibadan, describing the incident as sad, shocking and painful.
It stated that the state government would work with the Oyo State Police Command to investigate the matter and ensure that justice is served.
The government said that the incident was totally avoidable, noting how what started as a traffic offence, with the father of the slain boy driving against traffic, resulted in the loss of an innocent life.
It urged residents to remain calm as the police and the government handle the situation, while it also warned residents against breaking traffic rules.
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The state government clarified that contrary to claims that the incident occurred while the police were chasing a suspected internet fraudster, the incident actually occurred during a routine operation against traffic infraction, carried out by men of the Oyo State Road Traffic Maintenance Authority (OYRTMA).
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.
It explained that the backup from the police became imperative following assaults on OYRTMA officials and a recent killing of one official in Ibadan by a traffic offender.
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.
