Father of schoolboy killed by stray bullet drove against traffic – Oyo Govt

Oyo State Government says father of a schoolboy reportedly killed by a stray bullet drove against the traffic when the incident occurred in Ibadan on Tuesday. This is just as the government commiserated with the family of the deceased, describing the incident as sad, shocking and painful. Daily Trust reports that the 17 year old […]

Oyo State Government says father of a schoolboy reportedly killed by a stray bullet drove against the traffic when the incident occurred in Ibadan on Tuesday.

This is just as the government commiserated with the family of the deceased, describing the incident as sad, shocking and painful.

Daily Trust reports that the 17 year old student was reportedly killed by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a policeman, triggering protest in the Alakia–Gbagi area of Ibadan.

It was gathered that the victim was heading to the examination centre to sit for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination in Ibadan.

The incident which happened on Gbagi market road in the Egbeda Local Government Area of the state reportedly began when the boy’s father was alleged to have violated a traffic signal.

In an attempt to evade apprehension, he was said to have been chased by some policemen.

Witnesses said one of the policemen fired at the fleeing vehicle to disable it by targeting its tyres.

The bullet was said to have struck the child, who was in the car with his father, fatally wounding him.

“The officer was trying to stop the vehicle, but he fired and hit the boy instead. It all happened so fast along Gbagi Market Road,” one witness recounted.

The victim was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital but was reportedly confirmed dead on arrival.

Miffed by the development, a mob moved the pupil’s corpse to the Oyo State Secretariat, where they staged a protest, demanding justice and accountability from the state government.

Reacting, the government, in a statement by the Special Adviser to Makinde on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, promised to work with the state police command to investigate the matter and ensure that justice is served.

Olanrewaju noted 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.

The government urged residents to remain calm as the police and the government handle the situation, while it also warned residents against breaking traffic rules.

It 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 state Road Traffic Maintenance Authority.

“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.

“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 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 was during an attempt to apprehend the traffic offender that a policeman, who is already being investigated by the state police command, allegedly aimed a shot at one of the tyres of the car, which missed the target,” the government explained.

“We urge residents to stay calm while the police and the government work together to handle the situation. We also warn against breaking traffic rules,” the government added.

The government also promised to ensure justice is served and reassured the public that steps would be taken to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.