The Oyo State Government has confirmed that a police officer who shot and killed a secondary school student during a traffic stop in Ibadan is now under investigation.
The tragic incident happened on Tuesday morning, May 20, along Alakia Old Road, during a routine traffic operation. It caused panic and led to protests by angry residents.
According to a statement from the Special Adviser on Media to the Oyo State Governor, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the government described the incident as “sad, shocking and painful,” and expressed deep sympathy to the victim’s family.
The government said the shooting happened after the boy’s father, who was driving a black Honda Accord with registration number FST 639 JU, was caught driving against traffic.
“At about 7:30 a.m., the boy’s father was driving against traffic. During an attempt to stop the car, a policeman fired a shot at one of the tyres. Sadly, the bullet missed and hit the student inside the car, causing fatal injuries,” the statement explained.
Contrary to claims that the police were chasing an internet fraud suspect, the government clarified that the officer was part of a joint operation with the Oyo State Road Traffic Maintenance Authority (OYRTMA), aimed at stopping traffic violations in the area.
The statement also noted that the operation was launched after repeated complaints about dangerous driving along the route, which had already led to serious injuries and even deaths. It added that police were supporting OYRTMA officers after past attacks on officials, including the killing of one officer by a traffic offender.
One eyewitness at the scene said, “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.”
The student was quickly taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The killing triggered a protest by residents, who carried the boy’s body to the Oyo State Secretariat and demanded justice. The protest blocked parts of the road and brought traffic to a standstill during the morning rush hour.
As of the time this report was filed, the Oyo State Police Command had not released an official statement, but the state government promised a full investigation and said the officer involved would be held accountable if found guilty.
The government urged residents to remain calm and obey traffic laws, assuring them that justice would be served.
