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 reportedly struck by a stray bullet while inside his father’s car on Tuesday, reigniting nationwide concerns about police brutality and the persistent lack of accountability in Nigeria’s security forces.
At the time, Kehinde was one of five occupants in the vehicle driven by his father. His older brother, Emmanuel, was on his way to take the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
NBA President Afam Osigwe condemned attempts to justify the shooting by referencing the father’s alleged traffic violation.
“It is deeply disturbing that the loss of an innocent child is being excused by citing a traffic offense. There is no excuse for such a tragedy,” Osigwe stated. “Police officers have no right to discharge their weapons at a vehicle simply because of a traffic infraction. Such reckless behavior is unacceptable and highlights serious training deficiencies.”
Similarly, CDHR National President Debo Adeniran called for a thorough inquiry, describing the incident as a grave violation of the child’s fundamental right to life.
“The right to life is fundamental, and this incident is a clear case of excessive force,” Adeniran said. “Law enforcement personnel are trained to manage threats responsibly, not to use deadly force without justification.”
Adeniran further criticized the police explanation that the father’s traffic violation warranted the shooting, noting that reckless firing could have endangered anyone in or near the vehicle.