The tragic death of 14-year-old Kehinde Paul, who was fatally shot by a stray bullet while on his way to school, has sparked outrage and calls for justice. Kehinde was in his father Odunayo Alade’s car when the incident occurred on a frequently used shortcut in Oyo State. The father’s account reveals the chaotic and heartbreaking sequence of events that led to the young student’s untimely death.
According to The Punch, on the morning of the shooting, Alade was taking his children to school, trying to avoid traffic by using a local shortcut. As he approached a junction, officials from the Oyo Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) blocked his vehicle, forcing him to reverse and attempt to maneuver around them. Alade was unaware the officials were trying to stop him and was eager to avoid any delays because his older son was scheduled to sit for a critical WASSCE exam that same morning.
In his efforts to get past the officials, Alade’s vehicle was hit by a towing truck. Despite the obstruction, he managed to continue driving, believing he had escaped the threat. Moments later, a gunshot was fired, and it became clear that his son Kehinde had been hit. Alade immediately rushed the boy to a nearby hospital, but tragically, Kehinde died on the way to the University College Hospital.
According to him, “So after I left them, I just heard the gunshot. I didn’t stop. Then the boy in question was shouting, ‘Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy. I was even shouting on him that ‘why are you shouting? We’ve left them so we are safe and there’s no problem.’ I didn’t know that the bullet hit the boy. It was his twin brother that said, ‘Daddy stop, Paul has been shot. So, immediately I heard that, I parked and brought him out. The whole place was soaked with blood.”
Kehinde was a promising student who had recently switched from Science to Arts and aspired to become a lawyer. His father described the deep challenges he has faced as a single parent since his wife abandoned the family seven years ago. Alade expressed his heartbreak over losing his son and emphasized his determination to seek justice for the senseless loss.
An eyewitness who was in the car supported Alade’s account, confirming that the officials knew children were inside the vehicle and that the officers attempted to physically stop them before the shooting occurred. The officials’ actions and the subsequent shooting have raised serious questions about the use of force by the authorities.
The Oyo State Government explained that the operation was meant to enforce traffic laws due to past accidents caused by one-way violations. Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered a full investigation into the incident, and the officer involved has been taken into custody. The case continues to attract attention as calls for accountability and reform grow louder.
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