Ibadan, Nigeria – The Oyo State Government has expressed its condolences to the family of a secondary school student who was fatally shot during a traffic enforcement operation in Ibadan. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday morning in the Alakia area along Old Ife Road, has been described by the state government as deeply regrettable and shocking.

According to a statement released by Dr. Suleimon Olanrewaju, the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, the tragic event unfolded during a routine operation aimed at addressing traffic violations. Initial reports indicated that the boy was killed by a bullet allegedly fired by a police officer.

The state government has pledged full cooperation with the Oyo State Police Command to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. "We are committed to ensuring that justice is served in this matter," the statement affirmed. Officials emphasized that the incident was avoidable and stemmed from a traffic violation committed by the boy's father, who was driving against the designated traffic flow.

While urging residents to remain calm, the government also cautioned against breaking traffic laws. The statement clarified that contrary to some reports, the operation was not targeting suspected internet fraudsters but was a coordinated effort between the Oyo State Road Traffic Maintenance Authority (OYRTMA) and the police to enforce traffic regulations in response to complaints about motorists driving against traffic.

The government stated that the boy’s father was driving a tinted black Honda Accord with registration number FST 639 JU against traffic at approximately 7:30 a.m. "In an attempt to apprehend the traffic offender, a policeman allegedly aimed a shot at one of the tyres of the car but missed the target, resulting in the death of the young boy," the statement explained. The Oyo State Police Command has initiated an investigation into the conduct of the police officer involved.