Tension has gripped the city of Ibadan following the tragic killing of a secondary school student by a police officer on Tuesday morning. The Oyo State Government has confirmed that the officer responsible is now in custody and under investigation.
The incident occurred along Alakia Old Ife Road, where a police patrol team reportedly intercepted a black, tinted Honda Accord allegedly driving against traffic (one-way). According to eyewitness accounts, the car was being driven by the student’s father, with the boy seated in the front passenger seat.
An altercation reportedly broke out between the officers and the driver, during which one of the officers allegedly discharged his weapon, fatally shooting the schoolboy.
The shooting has sparked widespread outrage across Ibadan, with furious residents taking to the streets in protest. A large crowd marched to the Oyo State Government Secretariat in Agodi, demanding justice and immediate prosecution of the officer involved.
In a statement released on Tuesday by Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, the government condemned the incident as “sad, shocking, and totally avoidable.”
“We condole with the family of the deceased and assure the people of Oyo State that the matter is being thoroughly looked into. Justice will be served, and necessary actions will be taken to prevent a recurrence of such tragic incidents,” the statement read.
Olanrewaju further confirmed that the officer has been apprehended and that a full investigation is underway in collaboration with the Oyo State Police Command.
The incident has also drawn sharp condemnation from human rights advocates and civil society groups, who are demanding deeper police reforms and stricter accountability in the handling of traffic-related violations. On social media, the hashtag #JusticeForIbadanBoy has been trending, with Nigerians across the country expressing anger and grief, and calling for swift, transparent prosecution.
This latest incident adds to the growing number of reports of extrajudicial killings and police brutality in Nigeria, reigniting national conversations around law enforcement practices and the urgent need for systemic reform.