Sahara Reporters has taken to it’s official X handle and announced that,The family of 17-year-old Tolu Bobade, who was allegedly tortured to death in police custody at the Ifon Divisional Police Station, Ose Local Government Area, Ondo State, has petitioned the state’s Chief Judge, 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 subjected to brutal torture that led to his untimely death while in custody.
The shocking incident ignited outrage, with enraged youths storming the police station in protest, setting the building ablaze. In response, the Ondo State Police Command launched a crackdown, arresting five suspects over the arson.
In a petition submitted by Dupe Bobade on behalf of the grieving family, they demanded a full-scale probe into the circumstances surrounding Tolu’s arrest, detention, and suspicious death.
The family described the incident as a gross violation of human rights and an egregious abuse of power by the police. They further alleged that in an attempt to cover up their actions, the officers transported Tolu’s lifeless body to Adelabu Hospital in Ifon, where it was rejected. They then allegedly moved his corpse to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo, depositing it in the morgue without informing his family.
> “In a grievous attempt to obscure their misconduct, the officers transported his lifeless body to Adelabu Hospital in Ifon, where it was rejected,” the family stated.
“Subsequently, they moved his remains to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where it was deposited in the morgue without the knowledge of his family.”
Human rights groups and civil society organizations have joined the family in demanding an independent investigation, condemning what they describe as a growing pattern of police brutality across Nigeria.
Despite public outcry, the Ondo State Police Command has yet to provide any substantial explanation regarding Tolu’s death. However, the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, confirmed the arrests of five suspects over the arson attack and assured that an investigation was underway into both the alleged murder and the destruction of the police station.
As the nation watches closely, questions remain unanswered:
Why was Tolu arrested in the first place?
What exactly happened in those fateful 24 hours?
Will those responsible be held accountable, or will this be another case of police impunity?
The family, backed by rights groups, is demanding nothing less than justice—not just for Tolu, but for countless others who have fallen victim to police brutality in Nigeria.
PIONEER NEWS 