Tension gripped parts of Ibadan on Tuesday following the tragic death of a secondary school student, Taiwo, who was fatally struck by a stray police bullet along the Gbagi/Alakia road. The boy was being driven to school by his father when the incident occurred, allegedly during a police chase targeting suspected internet fraudsters, popularly known as “Yahoo Boys.”
Narrating the ordeal through tears, the bereaved father explained that he had been stopped by officers of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) for driving against traffic while taking his twin sons and their older brother to school. During the encounter, policemen pursuing a vehicle stormed the scene. “I was pleading and explaining that we were late for an exam when I suddenly heard a gunshot,” he said. “Before I knew it, my son was bleeding and gasping for air.” Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Taiwo was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The tragic incident sparked immediate protests as enraged residents, commercial motorcyclists, and traders marched to the Oyo State Government Secretariat, carrying the lifeless body of the teenager and demanding justice. The demonstration led to heightened security around the premises. In swift response, the Oyo State House of Assembly, during plenary, condemned the killing as “painful and avoidable.” Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Olasunkanmi Babalola, raised the matter under urgent public importance, confirming the student was en route to his WAEC examination when the bullet struck. The House called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of the officer responsible, as well as financial and psychological support for the grieving family. A committee led by the Deputy Speaker was constituted to engage the State Commissioner of Police, while the Assembly urged the Inspector General of Police to enforce stricter control over the use of firearms and prioritize the training of officers in responsible suspect apprehension.
