Outrage has erupted across Nigeria following the Oyo State Government’s justification of police conduct that led to the tragic death of a student en route to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Ibadan.
The incident occurred when a stray bullet, reportedly fired by a police officer attempting to apprehend a traffic offender, struck and killed the student. The Oyo State Government, in a statement released by Governor Seyi Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, attributed the incident to the father of the deceased, who allegedly drove against traffic.
According to the government’s account, officials of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), supported by a police team, were conducting a traffic enforcement operation on Alakia Old Road following complaints from residents.
During the operation, the student’s father, who was said to be driving a tinted black Honda Accord with registration number FST 639 JU, was accused of violating traffic rules. In an attempt to stop the vehicle, a police officer allegedly fired at the car’s tyre but missed, fatally injuring the student instead.
“The government finds the incident sad, shocking and painful. It is something that could have been avoided,” the statement read. It added that the involved police officer is under investigation and reiterated the administration’s commitment to justice and reforms in traffic enforcement.
However, the government’s explanation has sparked widespread condemnation and backlash from citizens, civil society groups, and rights advocates who accuse the state of downplaying a grave misconduct by law enforcement.
Many Nigerians took to social media, especially on the Facebook page of Punch Newspaper, to criticize the government’s defense of the shooting, calling it insensitive and a deflection of responsibility.
“Must police pursue traffic offenders immediately? There should be alternative ways of dealing with traffic offenders like capturing their data,” one commenter wrote, reflecting the general consensus that the use of firearms in such a situation was unjustifiable.
Another commenter lamented the declining value of human life in Nigeria, stating, “Life has become shorter in Nigeria than what was obtainable in Thomas Hobbes’ state of nature where he described life as ‘nasty, brutish and short.’”
Legal analysts and human rights advocates have also weighed in, warning that the government’s stance may embolden further unprofessional conduct by security agents if not adequately addressed.
“The focus should not be on the alleged traffic offense, but on why a trained officer would discharge a firearm in a residential area over a traffic violation. This was a fatal error of judgment that cost a young life,” said Adeola Ogunyemi, a human rights lawyer based in Ibadan.
As pressure mounts, the Oyo State Government faces growing calls to ensure a transparent investigation and to take immediate steps to reform its traffic enforcement strategy to prevent future tragedies.
Meanwhile, civil society organizations are mobilizing for peaceful protests and have demanded a public apology, compensation to the victim’s family, and the prosecution of the officer involved.
