F. O. IBIMILUYI

 

While Mr William Aborisade’s article, “And the Boy Died,” draws our attention to institutional decay, unprofessional conduct by the police, and a deeply flawed system, it is equally important to highlight an uncomfortable but undeniable truth: Disobedience can be fatal. The tragic death of Kehinde Paul Alade should not be reduced merely to the failures of the police or the historical legacy of 1966. This heartbreaking incident also serves as a timeless moral and legal lesson—actions have consequences.

Mr. Aborisade passionately questions the state of Nigerian policing and raises important sociological concerns. These are legitimate and long overdue. But we must not ignore the fact that a pivotal choice made by Kehinde’s father—his refusal to obey a police directive—triggered the chain of events that ended in his son’s tragic death. This choice, however noble his intentions might have been, was unlawful and unsafe.

Yes, I agree that the police must be held to the highest standards of professionalism. They must be retrained to de-escalate rather than provoke. They must embody the principles of public service rather than operate as threats to public safety. However, we must also acknowledge that the rule of law is not optional, and compliance with lawful orders—especially in tense situations—is not weakness but wisdom.

The problem of armed officers overzealously checking vehicle papers is valid, and their methods deserve criticism. But even if the policeman acted wrongly by firing a weapon, that wrong does not erase the father’s own fault in resisting a lawful stop. It is a double tragedy when both citizens and officers abandon lawful and reasonable conduct. One unlawful act often provokes another.

Societies are held together by mutual trust, accountability, and obedience to established norms. When any party—civilian or officer—ignores this, chaos is the result. Kehinde’s death is tragic and very unfortunate, but let it not be romanticized or weaponized to excuse disobedience. The same lawlessness that Mr. Aborisade laments in our leaders and law enforcement is mirrored when ordinary citizens refuse simple lawful directives.

If we are to fix this nation, then the healing must begin on both sides—a citizenry committed to obedience and civic responsibility, and a police force dedicated to service and respect for human life. Let us teach our children that rules matter, that road signs are not suggestions, and that no situation, no matter how urgent, justifies risking lives through unlawful behaviour.

Kehinde’s death is a clarion call—not just for police reform, but for personal responsibility. The father’s intentions were good, but good intentions never excuse dangerous disobedience. In a society where everyone begins to justify breaking the law for “just this once,” tragedy is only a heartbeat away.

May Kehinde’s soul rest in peace. And may we learn—deeply, painfully, and urgently—that disobedience can be fatal.