A Father’s frantic mission to get his son to an exam turned into a nightmare that has left a community reeling. On May 20, 2025, Odunayo Alade, a devoted dad, was behind the wheel of his black Honda Accord, weaving through traffic with one goal: to ensure his 14-year-old son, Kehinde Paul Alade, made it to his 8:30 AM WAEC exam on time. What unfolded instead was a tragedy that has sparked protests, tears, and a searing demand for justice.
It was just before 8 AM near the Airport Roundabout in Egbeda, Oyo State, when Odunayo’s car caught the attention of a joint team of Oyo State Police and Traffic Management Authority officers. He was driving against traffic, a risky move in a city notorious for chaotic roads. When officers signaled him to stop, Odunayo didn’t comply. “I didn’t know they were after me until they hit my car,” he later told reporters, his voice heavy with grief. His reason? Fear that a delay would cost Kehinde his exam. “You know how Nigerian police operate,” he said. “Once you’re in their hands, you’re stuck.”
With five schoolchildren in the car, including Kehinde and his twin brother Taiwo, Odunayo pressed on, maneuvering past barricades. The police gave chase, suspecting a criminal or kidnapper. In a split-second decision that would haunt Ibadan, a corporal fired at the car’s tires. The bullet missed its mark, piercing the rear window and striking Kehinde in the back. “I heard a gunshot,” Odunayo recounted, his words raw. “Kehinde was screaming ‘Daddy, Daddy!’ I thought we’d escaped until Taiwo shouted, ‘He’s been shot!’” Odunayo pulled over, only to find his son’s blood soaking the seat. Kehinde was rushed to University College Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival, his dreams of becoming a lawyer snuffed out at 14.
The aftermath was chaos. Furious residents and traders carried Kehinde’s body to the Oyo State Secretariat, chanting for justice. Social media erupted, with hashtags like #EndPoliceBrutality trending on X. “This is Nigeria’s reality, innocent kids dying for nothing,” one user posted. The officer responsible is in custody, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered a full investigation. But for Odunayo, no probe can undo the loss. “He told me last week he wanted to be a lawyer,” he said, tears in his eyes. “Now he’s gone.”
The incident has reignited debates about police tactics. Why was lethal force used for a traffic violation? The police claim Odunayo’s evasion raised suspicions of a bigger crime, but critics call it reckless. “A child is dead over a traffic stop,” said a Citizens’ Gavel spokesperson. “This is unchecked brutality.” The Oyo State government, calling the event “shocking,” insists it was a routine operation, not a hunt for criminals, and has vowed transparency.
Kehinde’s twin, Taiwo, now faces life without his other half. The family’s pain is palpable, shared by a city fed up with such tragedies. Protests continue, with traditional leaders demanding accountability. As Ibadan mourns, Odunayo’s words linger: “I just wanted my son to make his exam.” Instead, a father’s desperate dash ended in a loss that has shaken Nigeria to its core.
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