A civil society organisation, Citizens’ Gavel, has cautioned against any attempt to obstruct or conceal facts in the ongoing investigation into the death of 14-year-old Kehinde Alade, who was struck by a stray bullet in Oyo State on Tuesday.
Alade was said to be on his way to an examination centre to sit for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination, organised by the West African Examinations Council, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, when a stray bullet hit him.
The Oyo State government, while reacting to the incident, said the student’s father was driving against traffic when the incident happened.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Wednesday ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident.
Reacting in a statement, Citizens’ Gavel’s legal consultant, Funmi Adedoyin, condemned the act, saying it is a gross abuse of power and another example of the unchecked police brutality that continues to undermine public trust in Nigeria’s law enforcement institutions.
While acknowledging the swift directive by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police for an investigation into the matter, the organisation stressed that justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done.
The statement read in part: “This is not just a tragic incident; it is a glaring example of the unchecked police brutality that continues to plague our country. A traffic violation should never be a death sentence. Yet again, law enforcement officers have shown reckless disregard for human life, especially the life of a child whose only ‘crime’ was being in the wrong car at the wrong time.
“Nigeria has witnessed far too many cases of trigger-happy officers turning routine enforcement into deadly encounters. From checkpoints to traffic control, law enforcement in this country too often resorts to violence, with little accountability.
“While we acknowledge the swift order by the Commissioner of Police to investigate the matter and put the perpetrators on trial, we emphasise that justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done.
“We call on the Commissioner of Police to ensure that the process is transparent, thorough, and devoid of cover-ups or undue influence. The officers involved must be held fully accountable under the law, without delay or excuses.
“The loss of this young boy is a painful reminder of how broken our policing system remains. His future was stolen in a split second by those who were meant to protect him. The least the system can now do is deliver justice, fully and publicly.
“Citizens’ Gavel stands with the grieving family and the people of Ibadan. We will closely monitor the investigation and hold authorities accountable every step of the way. This culture of violence and impunity must end.”
