An inquiry into the shooting murder of a teenager named Kehinde Alade in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state, has been ordered by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun.
The force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement released on Wednesday that the police officer who was involved in the shooting has been arrested.
According to Adejobi, the IGP promised a transparent inquiry into the case and reassured the people that justice would be done.
“The Inspector-General of Police condemned the incident and assured that the officer involved in the shooting has been taken into custody while a full-scale investigation is underway,” the statement reads.
“He equally reiterated that the process will be transparent, and its findings will be made public to ensure justice is duly served as he expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased young man.”
THE SHOOTING INCIDENT
Alade was apparently travelling to write the current West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) when he was struck by a stray gunshot on Tuesday morning.
When the event happened along Gbagi Market Road in the Egbeda LGA, Ibadan, the 14-year-old was with his father and twin brother.
According to early social media accounts, the adolescent was struck by a stray gunshot when police were pursuing a suspect.
The shooting incident, however, occurred when the deceased’s father drove against the flow of traffic, according to a statement issued by the Oyo State Police Command.
The deceased’s father was driving a black Honda Accord LAGOS with registration number FST 639 JJ when a group of police officers and traffic officials tried to pull it over, according to Oyo police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso.
According to Osifeso, the driver struck cars owned by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA) instead of stopping the vehicle.
Osifeso said that because of the driver’s response, the police feared “possible criminal activity or a case of abduction” and pursued the car while firing a shot at its tyre.
The Oyo police spokesperson said the “bullet missed and struck Kehinde Alade ‘m’, who was seated in the rear seat behind the driver”.
