Tragedy in Ibadan: Police Mistake WAEC Candidate’s Father for Criminal, 14-Year-Old Boy Fatally Shot

A tragic misjudgment during a routine traffic enforcement operation on the morning of May 20, 2025, has left the city of Ibadan in shock after a 14-year-old boy, Kehinde Alade, was fatally shot by a police officer. The incident unfolded near the Airport Roundabout, along Alakia-Adelubi/Airport Road in Egbeda Local Government Area.

According to an official statement from the Oyo State Police Command, the event began when officers from the command, working alongside the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA), attempted to stop a black Honda Accord bearing Lagos registration number FST 639 JJ. The driver, identified as Odunayo Alade—father of the late Kehinde—was reportedly driving against traffic.

The enforcement team signaled for the driver to stop. Instead, he allegedly sped up, hitting two OYTMA vehicles and a police patrol truck in the process. Fearing the worst—possibly a fleeing criminal or a kidnapper—officers reportedly set up barricades to prevent further danger. The driver, however, is said to have driven through the barriers, escalating the situation.

Believing they were pursuing a dangerous suspect, the officers gave chase. In a bid to stop the vehicle, a police corporal fired at the car’s tyres. Tragically, the bullet struck Kehinde, who was seated directly behind his father in the back seat. The boy was rushed to University College Hospital (UCH), where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

Following the shooting, tension gripped the area. The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Johnson Adenola, swiftly deployed tactical units, including the Police Mobile Force, to secure the scene and maintain public order.

The officer who fired the fatal shot has since been taken into custody and is cooperating with an ongoing investigation led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department. The police command has promised a transparent investigation, pledging that the findings will be made public.

In a heartfelt message, the Oyo State Police Command extended its condolences to the Alade family and reassured the public of its commitment to justice and accountability.

For emergencies, the public is urged to contact the Oyo State Call Response Center via 615, or reach the police command control room at 08081768614, 09054133071, or 09061299291.