A yet-to-be-identified police officer yesterday allegedly killed a 14-year-old student, Taiwo Alade, in the Alakia area of Ibadan, Oyo State, sparking protests in the city.

The boy reportedly died from a stray bullet fired by the officer, who was said to be pursuing a fleeing vehicle along Gbagi Market Road in Alakia.

According to eyewitnesses, the officer opened fire in an attempt to stop the suspect. Tragically, one of the bullets missed its target and struck the schoolboy, who was in his father’s vehicle with his twin brother.

Taiwo was rushed to Welfare Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by a doctor on duty.

A security officer working in the area told The Guardian: “At about 7:30 a.m. today, Tuesday, May 30, a boy whose identity could not be ascertained was hit by a stray bullet from an officer of the Nigeria Police Force at the airport junction. The embattled officer ran into Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport for safety. This led to a crowd at the airport gate, protesting and demanding justice as they said the boy died in a hospital.”

Sympathisers and traders, angered by the incident, carried the deceased’s body to the Governor’s Office at the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, demanding justice and an audience with Governor Seyi Makinde.

Speaking to The Guardian, the boy’s father, Mr Odunayo Alade, recounted the incident: “I was conveying Taiwo and his brother to school when my vehicle was hit from behind. While trying to reverse in confusion, a police officer at the area suddenly shot at my vehicle. The bullet hit Taiwo. His brother called my attention to the fact that blood was gushing out of his body. We rushed him to the hospital, but the bullet penetrated his stomach and came out from the other side.”

Mr Alade, who broke down in tears, said he had been solely raising Taiwo and his siblings since their mother left seven years ago. “Who did I offend? What did I do? I have been taking care of this boy and his brothers alone,” he lamented.

The Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security Matters, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd), appealed for calm, assuring the family and protesters that justice would be served.

The deceased’s remains were later moved from the Governor’s Office to a mortuary. Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Command, Adewale Osifeso, for a comment were unsuccessful as he did not respond to messages as of press time.