The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the death of 14-year-old Kehinde Alade, who was fatally struck by a stray bullet on Tuesday morning in the Gbagi area of Ibadan.
Alade, a student preparing for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), was reportedly in a vehicle with his twin brother and father when the tragic incident occurred. The family was en route to his examination center when the incident unfolded along the Gbagi Market road in Egbeda Local Government Area.
In an official statement, police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso explained that officers were conducting a joint traffic enforcement operation with the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA) when they encountered a black Honda Accord (Lagos registration FST 639 JJ) driving against traffic. The vehicle was driven by Alade’s father, identified only as Odunayo.
According to Osifeso, instead of complying with officers’ directives, the driver allegedly accelerated in an attempt to evade arrest, colliding with two OYTMA vehicles and a police patrol truck. In response, officers set up barricades, which the vehicle reportedly broke through, prompting suspicions of criminal activity or a potential abduction.
During the pursuit, a police corporal fired at the vehicle’s tyres in an effort to immobilize it. Tragically, the bullet missed its target and struck Kehinde, who was seated behind the driver.
The teenager was rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH) but was declared dead on arrival. His body has been deposited at the Adeoyo State Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
In response to the incident, Commissioner of Police Johnson Adenola deployed tactical and intelligence units to restore order in the area. The officer who discharged the firearm, along with other members of the enforcement team, has been taken into custody as part of a comprehensive investigation.
The police have pledged transparency in the investigation and assured the public that the findings will be made public.