Odunayo Alade, the father of Kehinde, the teenager fatally shot by a police officer’s stray bullet, revealed that one of his sons was running late for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) when the tragedy occurred. Alade described the route he was driving as a shortcut to the main road, emphasizing the urgency of getting his children to school.

Kehinde was slain on Tuesday in the Gbagi area of Ibadan after a police officer fired at his father’s vehicle. The Oyo police command stated that Alade attempted to flee after being stopped for driving against traffic.

In footage of the encounter, Alade is seen trying to maneuver his car in an effort to evade a joint team of police officers and officials of the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA). A police corporal subsequently discharged live rounds to immobilize the vehicle—tragically, Kehinde, seated in the back with his twin brother, was struck in the abdomen.

“I DIDN’T BREAK THE LAW”

In an interview with News Central TV, Alade defended his actions, insisting he was not violating traffic rules since the route he took was a mere stone’s throw from the main road. “I was taking the children to school yesterday morning, and at the entrance of my junction, there’s maybe a stone’s throw, not up to one pole or two poles, to where we just follow and then branch to normal way,” Alade stated.

He recounted the encounter with OYTMA officials who blocked his vehicle and insisted he was in violation of the law. Alade attempted to explain that his route was commonly used by locals and was simply a short distance to the main junction.

When asked why he didn’t pull over when approached by law enforcement, Alade explained, “You know how Nigerian government works. If you’re on your own, once you fall into their traps… Moreover, the elder brother of the deceased was supposed to be writing WASSCE yesterday. If I should stop, they would have delayed the boy. That was why I had to maneuver my way.”

Alade described hearing the gunshot but didn’t stop until he realized his son was in distress. “I can’t really say; it’s only God that knows the situation of things,” he said when questioned about whether the incident could have been prevented.

His late son, Kehinde, had dreams of becoming a lawyer and had recently moved from a science class to pursue his aspirations.