On the morning of May 20, 2025, a heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Nigeria, that has left a family shattered, a community in mourning, and a nation once again grappling with the devastating consequences of police misconduct. A young secondary school student, identified as Taiwo, was fatally struck by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer during a high-speed chase. The boy, a candidate for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), was on his way to write his Chemistry practical exam when his life was abruptly taken. This incident, occurring along Gbagi Market Road in the Egbeda Local Government Area, has sparked outrage, protests, and renewed calls for justice and police reform across Nigeria.
The Incident: A Life Stolen in an Instant
The details of this tragedy are as harrowing as they are infuriating. According to multiple eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, May 20, 2025, near the Alakia area of Ibadan, close to the Ibadan airport junction along Old Ife Road. Taiwo, a 17-year-old student, was being driven to his examination center by his father, accompanied by his twin brother. The family was in a black Honda car, a routine trip filled with the anticipation of an important academic milestone. Unbeknownst to them, a group of police officers from Alabata Police Station were engaged in a high-speed pursuit of a vehicle suspected of carrying internet fraudsters, commonly referred to as “Yahoo Boys.”
In an attempt to stop the fleeing vehicle, one of the officers opened fire, reportedly aiming for the tires. However, in a reckless act of disregard for public safety, a stray bullet pierced the back of the family’s car, striking Taiwo, who was seated in the backseat. His twin brother raised the alarm as blood began gushing from the wound, alerting their father to the horrific reality. Despite being rushed to Welfare Hospital in Alakia, Taiwo was pronounced dead on arrival. Some reports indicate he was later referred to the University College Hospital (UCH), but the outcome remained the same—a young life was lost before it could even begin to fulfill its potential.
Eyewitnesses paint a vivid picture of the chaos that ensued. “We were at the airport area when we saw a car being chased by the police. One of the officers raised his gun and fired. The boy was inside the car with his father when it happened.” Another witness, a commercial motorcyclist named Dauda Oseni, described the moment the father realized his son had been hit: “The father of the deceased got to know about the incident when the other twin brother raised an alarm, seeing blood gushing from his brother.” The boy, dressed in his sky-blue school uniform, never made it to his exam. His body was later deposited at Adeoyo Hospital morgue.
Protests and Demands for Justice
The news of Taiwo’s death spread like wildfire, igniting grief and anger across Ibadan. By mid-morning, market traders, sympathizers, and irate youths gathered in protest, carrying the boy’s lifeless body to the Oyo State Government Secretariat in Agodi to demand justice. The demonstrators, led by Taiwo’s grieving father, called on Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene and ensure accountability for the officer responsible. The protest was a powerful display of collective mourning and frustration, with chants of “End Police Brutality” echoing through the streets, reminiscent of the 2020 #EndSARS movement that shook Nigeria to its core.
Social media platforms, particularly X, became a space for Nigerians to express their outrage and sorrow. Popular comedian and activist Mr. Macaroni took to X to condemn the Nigerian Police Force, amplifying the call for justice. One X user,
@Imbuya_media
, wrote, “The Nigerian Police once again stains its uniform with innocent blood — a student on his way to write WAEC. A twin. A future. Killed in his father’s car. This isn’t law enforcement. It’s state-sanctioned recklessness.” Another user,
@TheMahleek
, lamented, “Parents raised their child for years and on a fateful day, on his way to write a WAEC exam, he got shot and killed in his father’s car by Nigerian Police officers chasing down alleged yahoo boys. Bro, this country makes zero sense…” These sentiments reflect a deep-seated frustration with a system that repeatedly fails its citizens.
The protests were met with a response from the Oyo State government, with the governor’s Executive Assistant on Security, Mr. Sunday Odukoya, assuring demonstrators that the matter would be addressed. However, as of the time of this writing, neither the Oyo State Police Command nor the state government has issued an official statement, leaving many questions unanswered and fueling public distrust.
A Pattern of Recklessness: Police Brutality in Nigeria
This tragedy is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern of police misconduct in Nigeria. Just days earlier, on May 17, 2025, a student from Kwararafa University in Benue State was killed by a stray bullet during a police stop-and-search operation in Makurdi. In 2020, the #EndSARS protests brought global attention to the rampant abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), leading to its dissolution. Yet, five years later, incidents like Taiwo’s death show that little has changed. The reckless use of firearms by police officers, often in crowded public spaces, continues to claim innocent lives.
the sentiment of many Nigerians who feel that the police act without fear of consequences.
The Human Cost: A Family’s Loss and a Nation’s Grief
Beyond the headlines and protests, this is a story of profound personal loss. Taiwo was not just a statistic; he was a son, a brother, a twin, and a student with dreams of a brighter future. His father, a single parent who had raised Taiwo and his twin brother alone for seven years after their mother left, was driving his sons to their exam with pride and hope. The unimaginable pain of losing a child in such a senseless manner is compounded by the fact that Taiwo was on the cusp of a significant academic milestone. His twin brother, who witnessed the tragedy firsthand, now carries the trauma of seeing his sibling’s life end in an instant.
The ripple effects of this loss extend beyond the family. Taiwo’s classmates, teachers, and community are left grappling with grief and fear. How can parents feel safe sending their children to school when a routine trip can end in tragedy? How can students focus on their exams when the specter of violence looms so large? This incident underscores the urgent need for systemic change to restore trust in law enforcement and ensure the safety of all Nigerians.
A Call for Accountability and Reform
The death of Taiwo demands more than condolences—it demands action. The Nigerian Police Force must conduct a transparent and thorough investigation into the incident, identifying and prosecuting the officer responsible. The use of firearms in public spaces, especially during pursuits, must be strictly regulated to prevent such tragedies. Community leaders, activists, and citizens are rightly calling for reforms to address the systemic issues that allow these incidents to persist.
Governor Seyi Makinde and the Oyo State government have a critical role to play in ensuring justice is served. The protesters who brought Taiwo’s body to the State Secretariat were not just seeking answers; they were demanding a commitment to change. The silence from the Oyo State Police Command is unacceptable, and the public deserves clear communication about the steps being taken to address this tragedy.
On a national level, this incident reignites the conversation about police reform. Training programs that emphasize de-escalation, accountability, and respect for human life are long overdue. The Nigerian government must prioritize policies that protect citizens from the very forces meant to serve them. The #EndPoliceBrutality hashtag, trending once again on X, is a reminder that the fight for justice is far from over.
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