Family Demands Justice for 17-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Tortured to Death in Ondo Police Custody

The family of 17-year-old Tolu Bobade has demanded justice after he was allegedly tortured to death while in police custody at the Ifon Divisional Police Station in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Bobade was arrested on February 14, 2025, reportedly on the orders of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Isadare Funminiyi. Less than 24 hours later, he was allegedly subjected to brutal torture, leading to his death inside the station.

Following the tragic incident, enraged youths in the community stormed the police station in protest, setting the building on fire. In response, the Ondo State Police Command arrested five individuals suspected of involvement in the arson.

Family Seeks Justice

Bobade’s family has petitioned the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olusegun Odusola, calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest, detention, and death. The petition, signed by Dupe Bobade on behalf of the family, describes the teenager’s death as a gross violation of human rights and an abuse of police authority.

According to the family, after allegedly torturing Bobade to death, the officers involved attempted to cover up their actions by taking his body to Adelabu Hospital in Ifon. However, the hospital reportedly refused to accept the corpse. The police then moved his remains to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo, where it was placed in the morgue without notifying the family.

“In an attempt to hide their actions, the officers first took his body to Adelabu Hospital in Ifon, but it was rejected. They later moved him to FMC Owo and deposited his corpse in the morgue without our knowledge,” the family stated.

Protests and Police Response

The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, confirmed the arrest of suspects linked to the arson attack on the station. He also assured the public that investigations into both the alleged police brutality and the destruction of the station were ongoing.

However, human rights groups and civil society organizations have condemned the incident, calling for an independent inquiry into the case. They have also expressed concerns over the rising cases of police brutality in Nigeria and the lack of accountability in such cases.

Despite the mounting pressure, the Ondo State Police Command has yet to provide a clear explanation regarding the circumstances of Bobade’s death.