A heartbreaking incident shook Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday morning, May 20, 2025, when a 17-year-old student was killed by a stray bullet fired by police. The boy, one of twins, was on his way to write his West African Examination Council (WAEC) exam when the tragedy struck. His father was driving him to the exam center in their car along Gbagi Market Road when police, chasing a vehicle for allegedly driving against traffic, opened fire. A bullet pierced the car’s back and hit the student in the waist, killing him.
The student was rushed to Welfare Hospital in Alakia, Ibadan, but doctors confirmed he was dead on arrival. A video showed bloodstains inside the car, marking the spot where the boy was struck. Eyewitnesses described the chaos saying, “We saw police chasing a car near the airport area. One officer fired, and the bullet hit the boy in his father’s car.” The grief-stricken family, joined by dozens of sympathizers at the hospital, mourned the loss.
Outrage followed as details emerged. The officer who fired, reportedly from Alabata Police Station, fled the scene, allegedly trying to hide at an Air Force base but was turned away. The boy’s relative revealed police seemed more concerned about securing their patrol van than saving the victim. Dr. Adeyoju Ayinla, who tried to save the student, was assaulted during the commotion, suffering head injuries. He confirmed, “It was a stray bullet. We couldn’t save him.” Angry youths protested, carrying the boy’s body to the Oyo State Secretariat to demand justice from Governor Seyi Makinde.
The Oyo State Police Command has stayed silent, with spokesperson Adewale Osifeso unreachable. The incident has sparked widespread calls for accountability, with several notable figures slamming the police’s “brutality” under Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun. This tragedy raises tough questions about police conduct and public safety.