“Family Demands Justice After 17-Year-Old Dies in Police Custody in Ondo”
The family of Tolu Bobade, a 17-year-old boy who reportedly died in police custody at the Divisional Police Station in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, has urgently called for justice following their son’s tragic death.
Tolu Bobade was allegedly tortured to death by officers of the Ifon Police Division over the weekend, an event that sparked fury among local youths. In retaliation, the enraged residents stormed the police station, chased away the officers on duty, and set the facility on fire.
The police initially claimed that the burning of the station was linked to a dispute between two families in the town. However, this claim has been met with skepticism by the Bobade family and the public. During a visit to the town on Sunday, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilfred Afolabi, condemned the attack on the police station and ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
The Bobade family, in a formal petition to the Chief Justice of the state, Olusegun Odusola, accused the police of brutalizing their son, resulting in his untimely death. The petition, signed by Dupe Bobade on behalf of the family, states that Tolu was arrested on February 14, 2025, by officers under the direction of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Isadare Funminiyi. According to the family, during his detention, Tolu was subjected to severe torture, leading to his death the following day, February 15.
The family further alleges that in an attempt to cover up their actions, the officers transported Tolu’s lifeless body to a local hospital in Ifon, where it was rejected. They then moved his body to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo, where it was deposited in the morgue without informing the family. This shocking move, according to the petition, directly contravenes the Anti-Torture Act of 2017 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) of 2015.
In their pursuit of justice, the Bobade family has called on the state chief judge to launch an independent, thorough, and unbiased investigation into the circumstances of Tolu’s arrest, detention, and death. They are demanding that DPO Isadare Funminiyi and all officers involved be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, in accordance with the provisions of the Anti-Torture Act and ACJA.
“We seek justice not only to honor the memory of our son, Tolu, but also to ensure the rule of law prevails, deterring any future violations,” the family said in their petition. They have placed their trust in the state’s judicial system, hoping for swift and fair action to hold those responsible accountable for this heart-wrenching tragedy.
