The father of Kehinde Alade, the 15-year-old student who was killed by a police bullet in Ibadan, has revealed why he flouted traffic rules on the day of the tragic incident.
Odunayo Alade said he was only trying to get his children home from school when he made the decision to drive against traffic.
According to him, he had just pumped his tyre at a nearby junction and was about to drive off when he noticed a vehicle heading his way, which he later realised belonged to the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority.
Alade explained that he tried to avoid a confrontation with the officials, but his car was hit.
In an attempt to escape, he reversed and drove off, unaware that he was being pursued by four vehicles.
As he tried to get away from the scene, he suddenly heard a gunshot.
His son, Kehinde, who was seated at the back, started calling out, and his twin brother, Taiwo, alerted him that something was wrong.
When he pulled over, he discovered that Kehinde had been shot.
He said that people gathered and quickly took the wounded boy to a nearby hospital before he was later moved to the University College Hospital, where he died.
The grieving father, who has been raising his children alone after separating from their mother seven years ago, said Kehinde was in SS1 and would have turned 14 later in the year.
He added that his eldest son was the one sitting for WAEC, not Kehinde.
Alade said he had committed himself to caring for his children and had rejected chances to remarry just to focus on them.
He described Kehinde as a bright boy with dreams and a love for school, and he wants justice to be served so that no other parent will have to face the same pain.
He also insisted that he had no idea the officials were chasing suspects and not him, noting that one of them even opened his car and saw children inside.
In reaction to the death, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered a full investigation into the shooting.
The officer believed to be responsible has been taken into custody, and the police have promised to make the findings public.
The IGP condemned the killing and extended condolences to the family.
