Family Of 17-Year-Old Boy Tortured To Death In Police Custody Demands Justice
Following his death, enraged youths stormed the police station in protest, setting the building ablaze. In response, the Ondo State Police Command arrested five suspects over the arson.
The family of 17-year-old Tolu Bobade, who was allegedly tortured to death by policemen at the Ifon Divisional Police Station in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, has petitioned the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olusegun Odusola, demanding justice for their son.
Bobade was reportedly arrested on February 14, 2025, on the orders of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Isadare Funminiyi. Less than 24 hours later, he was allegedly tortured to death while in police custody.
Following his death, enraged youths stormed the police station in protest, setting the building ablaze. In response, the Ondo State Police Command arrested five suspects over the arson.
The Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, confirmed the arrests in Akure, stating that an investigation into both the alleged killing and the attack on the station was underway.
In the petition submitted by Dupe Bobade on behalf of the family, they demanded a full-scale probe into the circumstances surrounding Tolu’s arrest, detention, and eventual death.
The family described his death as a gross violation of his fundamental human rights and an outright abuse of power by the police.
The petition further alleged that after torturing Bobade to death, the police attempted to cover up their actions by transporting his corpse to Adelabu Hospital in Ifon, where it was rejected.
The officers then allegedly moved his remains to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo and deposited it in the morgue without informing his family.
The family said: “In a grievous attempt to obscure their misconduct, the officers transported his lifeless body to Adelabu Hospital in Ifon, where it was rejected.
“Subsequently, they moved his remains to the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, in Owo, where it was deposited in the morgue on their own without the knowledge of the family.”
Human rights groups and civil society organisations have also called for an independent investigation into the case, condemning the growing pattern of police brutality in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has yet to provide any substantial explanation regarding the boy’s death.
