A tense evening in Ibadan turned tragic on Tuesday when a teenager known locally as DMX was fatally shot by a police officer during a brief confrontation in the Alakia area.
The incident, which has since stirred widespread anger online, renewed concerns about police use of force in Oyo State.
Witnesses said an argument broke out between the teenager and the officer, escalating far quicker than anyone around expected.
According to a resident familiar with the matter, the officer allegedly fired at the teenager’s leg at close range.
“People around thought it was just a small quarrel until the shot rang out,” the resident recounted. “By the time his friends got to him, he had already lost too much blood.”
The boy was rushed to a nearby medical facility, but he died shortly after arrival.
His friends claimed that delays in treatment worsened his condition, despite their efforts to secure blood and other emergency care.
A social media user with the handle @Sturbyrich65562 was among the first to draw public attention to the shooting.
He insisted online that the teenager was unarmed and did not physically attack the officer.
His post included a jab at the officer’s conduct, saying the shooting appeared to be driven by impulse rather than threat.
An anti-cultism advocacy group, Naija Confra, also weighed in, confirming that the victim was still alive when taken to the hospital. The group, however, echoed the allegation of medical negligence.
“He was bleeding heavily. Payment for blood was made, but his friends kept saying the response from the hospital was too slow,” the group posted.
In a twist that has deepened public interest, the platform added that the teenager’s father is a senior police officer.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain official comments from the Oyo State Police Command hit a dead end as calls and messages to the Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Oyefeso, went unanswered.
Residents say this case has again spotlighted the uneasy relationship between security operatives and civilians.
A community leader expressed frustration, noting that people now fear routine encounters with law enforcement. “We keep saying reforms are needed, yet young lives keep getting cut short,” he said.
The incident has continued to generate debate across Ibadan, with calls for a transparent investigation growing louder.
As the community mourns the teenager, the demand for accountability hangs heavily in the air, hinting at broader social tensions that authorities may no longer be able to ignore.