The Oyo State Government has launched an investigation into the police officer who fatally shot a secondary school student during a traffic enforcement operation in Ibadan.
The incident occurred on Tuesday along Alakia Old Road and has sparked widespread outrage and demands for justice from the public.
In a statement, Governor Seyi Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, described the shooting as tragic and avoidable, offering condolences to the grieving family.
The government explained that the incident stemmed from a traffic violation by the student’s father, who was reportedly driving against traffic in a tinted black Honda Accord (registration number FST 639 JU) around 7:30 a.m.
“While attempting to stop the vehicle, a police officer — now under investigation — fired at one of the tyres. Unfortunately, the bullet missed its target and struck the student inside the car, leading to fatal injuries,” the statement read.
The government also dispelled rumours that the police were chasing a suspected internet fraudster, clarifying that the operation was part of a routine crackdown on traffic violations conducted by the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) with police support.
It added that the enforcement effort followed repeated complaints about dangerous one-way driving on Alakia Old Road, which has previously caused fatalities and serious injuries.
“The involvement of police was necessary due to increasing attacks on OYRTMA officials, including the recent killing of one officer by a traffic violator,” the statement noted.
