Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has slammed Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration over the alleged use of excessive force by traffic enforcement officers, leading to the killing of a 14-year-old boy, Kehinde Alade, in Ibadan on Tuesday.
Pandemonium broke out in the New Gbagi Market-Alakia/Old Ife Road area of Ibadan when a policeman attached to the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Agency (OYRTMA) allegedly fired a shot at a motorist accused of driving against traffic. The bullet reportedly hit the driver’s teenage son, Kehinde, who was being taken to school with his twin brother.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, made available to reporters yesterday in Ibadan, the APC condemned the involvement of gun-wielding security agents in traffic enforcement, saying the act was unprofessional and avoidable.
“The killing of the innocent schoolboy by an overzealous policeman in Ibadan on Tuesday was not only unfortunate but also sad and devastating, going by the circumstances surrounding the whole incident,” the statement read.
“What made it worse was the reaction from the state government, which, instead of accepting responsibility, blamed the father of the victim for the tragic outcome. This added insult to injury and reflects poorly on the administration’s sense of accountability.”
The party described as unacceptable the alleged refusal of the government to acknowledge its failure to safeguard lives, stressing that the deployment of armed officers against traffic offenders was both dangerous and outdated.
“Oyo State government failed in its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property. The idea of chasing motorists with armed men instead of deploying close-circuit television (CCTV) and traffic-monitoring technology, as done in Lagos and other advanced climes, is archaic and counterproductive,” the party stated.
It accused Governor Makinde of misplacing priorities, saying while criminals torment residents in Iwajowa, Akinyele, Oluyole, Ibarapa North, Saki East, Oriire, Oyo West, and other areas, the government prefers to use armed officers against motorists.
The APC further called attention to the activities of OYRTMA, Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), and Park Management System (PMS) operatives, whom it accused of turning traffic enforcement into a revenue drive while harassing drivers and causing chaos across the state.
“The state government must check the excesses of these officials as their conduct poses a serious threat to public peace and safety,” the statement said.
The opposition party demanded a thorough investigation by the Inspector-General of Police and the Federal Government, with a view to ensuring justice for the slain boy and punishing all those found culpable.
“The death of Kehinde Alade must not be swept under the carpet. It is high time Governor Makinde adopted civilised and tech-driven approaches to traffic control rather than unleashing brute force on residents,” Sadare added.
