The family of Tolu Bobade, a 17-year-old boy who allegedly died while in police custody in Ifon, Ondo State, has called for justice over his tragic death.
They claim that Tolu was tortured by police officers at the Divisional Police Station in Ifon, leading to his untimely death over the weekend.
The incident sparked anger among local youths, who went on to burn the police station and drive the officers away.
Initially, the police claimed the burning of the station was linked to a conflict between two families in the town.
On Sunday, Police Commissioner Wilfred Afolabi visited Ifon to assess the damage caused to the station.
He condemned the attack and ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
In response, the Bobade family petitioned the Chief Justice of Ondo State, Olusegun Odusola, on Monday, alleging that the police were responsible for their son’s death.
Dupe Bobade, a family representative, stated that Tolu was arrested on February 14 by officers under the instruction of Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Isadare Funminiyi.
The family’s petition claims that during his detention, Tolu was subjected to severe torture, resulting in his death on February 15.
The petition further alleges that the police, in an attempt to cover up their actions, transported Tolu’s lifeless body to Adelabu Hospital in Ifon, where it was rejected, and then to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo, where the body was placed in the morgue without informing the family.
The Bobade family contends that the police’s actions violate both the Anti-Torture Act of 2017 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) of 2015. In their petition, they have requested that the Chief Justice launch a full and impartial investigation into Tolu’s arrest, detention, and subsequent death.
The family is demanding that DPO Funminiyi and the officers involved be held accountable and face prosecution in accordance with the law.
They also expressed hope that justice will prevail, not only to honor Tolu’s memory but also to reinforce the importance of the rule of law and prevent such incidents from happening again.