The family of late teen Ezekiel Oyedeji Oladayo has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, and the Police Service Commission over what they described as the brutal murder of the 18-year-old by a “trigger-happy” police officer in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

In the petition signed by Abuja-based human rights lawyer Seprebofa Oyeghe, acting on behalf of the family through Messiah Associates, the lawyer alleged that Mr Oyedeji was shot dead in the early hours of Monday, September 8, 2025, while returning from work with two of his colleagues.

According to the petition, which was obtained by Peoples Gazette on Friday, Mr Oyedeji, alongside Temidayo Shadrack and Akuboye Ayomide, had stepped out around 1:35 a.m. to buy food and water near their workplace on Road 7, Ile-Ife, when they encountered two policemen.

The petition narrated that the officers ordered the trio to stop and lie face down on the ground. As they obeyed, one of the policemen allegedly fired a shot that struck Mr Oyedeji from the back, piercing through his stomach and killing him instantly.

Quoting witness accounts contained in the petition, Mr Oyeghe wrote, “The policeman who came from the front fired his gun on one of us, Ezekiel Oyedeji Oladayo, who died on the spot. The bullet pierced from his back to the stomach, down to the floor as we were lying down.”

The petition further alleged that the officers attempted to cover up the killing by calling in reinforcements, who arrived about 20 minutes later with a pickup van. Mr Oyedeji’s lifeless body was then moved to the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital mortuary, where doctors confirmed him dead on arrival.

The lawyer alleged that in a bid to destroy evidence, the policemen washed off Mr Oyedeji’s blood at the scene before placing tyres over the spot. After dropping the body at the mortuary, the officers allegedly searched for water to wash their vehicle before heading to the Moore Police Station in Ile-Ifę, where the two surviving youths were compelled to write statements.

The petition also said the officers pleaded with the survivors to convince the deceased’s family to “forgive” them, promising to fund his burial.

“Clearly, the police are doing everything possible to cover the cruel murder of Mr Dayo Ezekiel,” Mr Oyeghe said in the petition. “Hence, the family and friends are calling on the police and all concerned authorities to investigate this matter and ensure that the killer cop is brought to book.”

The family urged the IGP and the PSC to immediately identify and prosecute the officer responsible, stressing that failure to do so would amount to complicity in shielding a murderer in uniform.

As of press time, neither the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin and the Osun State police command’s spokesperson, Yemi Opalola, did not respond to requests for comments on the matter.