Pius Nsabe
The Oyo State Government has commiserated with the family of a secondary school boy, Taiwo, killed during a routine traffic infraction operation on Alakia Old Road, Ibadan, the state capital, describing the incident as sad, shocking and painful.
It stated that the state government would work with the state Police Command to investigate the matter and ensure that justice is served.
A statement by Pastor Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser (Media) to Governor Seyi Makinde, said that the incident was completely avoidable, noting how what started as a traffic offence, with the father of the slain boy driving against traffic, resulted in the loss of an innocent life.
The statement charged residents to remain calm as the police and the government handle the situation, while it also warned residents against breaking traffic rules.
In clarifying the circumstances leading to the incident, the state government said contrary to claims that the incident occurred while the police were chasing a suspected internet fraudster, it actually occurred during a routine operation against traffic infraction, carried out by men of the Oyo State Road Traffic Maintenance Authority (OYRTMA).
According to the government, OYRTMA officials in conjunction with a team from the police, embarked on the traffic operation on Alakia Old Road following complaints from residents over constant one-way traffic violations that have led to deaths and life-threatening injuries on the axis.
It explained that the backup from the police became imperative following assaults on OYRTMA officials and a recent killing of one official in Ibadan by a traffic offender.
The government maintained that the father of the slain boy drove a tinted black Honda Accord Car with registration number FST 639 JU against the traffic at around 7.30 a.m.
It noted that it was during an attempt to apprehend the traffic offender that a policeman, who is already being investigated by the Oyo State Police Command, allegedly aimed a shot at one of the tyres of the car, which missed the target.
Earlier reports had said that the police was chasing some internet fraudsters popular called yahoo boys when the incident occurred.
The death of the boy had triggered a protest to the Oyo State Governor’s Office where members of the community of the slain youth had paraded the corpse.