The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) have called for a full and transparent investigation into the killing of 13-year-old Kehinde Alade by a police officer in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Kehinde was struck by a stray bullet while sitting inside his father’s car on Tuesday, sparking renewed concerns over police brutality and the lack of accountability within Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies.
At the time of the shooting, Kehinde was one of five occupants in the vehicle, which was driven by his father.
His elder brother, Emmanuel, was on his way to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
NBA President Afam Osigwe condemned attempts to justify the shooting by citing a traffic violation.
He stressed that the killing of an innocent child cannot be excused.
“Highlighting that the boy’s father drove against traffic is an unfortunate way to rationalize a tragic loss of life.
Police officers have no authority to shoot at a vehicle over a traffic infraction.
The shooting was reckless and unjustifiable,” Osigwe said.
Similarly, CDHR National President Debo Adeniran described the killing as a grave violation of the child’s fundamental right to life.
“This incident represents excessive and unjustified use of force by law enforcement officers trained to manage threats, not to discharge firearms indiscriminately,” Adeniran stated.
He also rejected the police’s explanation that the father’s traffic violation warranted the use of deadly force, noting that even without children in the car, the officer should have been aware of the risks involved in firing a weapon recklessly.
Adeniran further pointed out that if there was a genuine emergency, the father could have been allowed to take the route legally.
He demanded that murder charges be brought against the officer responsible and any accomplices, emphasizing that all those involved must be held accountable.