The Ondo State Police Command has arrested five individuals in connection with the alleged burning of a police station in Ifon Community, Ose Local Government Area, following protests over the death of a young man, Tolu Bobade, in police custody.
The unrest erupted after reports emerged that Bobade died at the station last Saturday. Outraged youths reportedly stormed the Divisional Police Station, setting it ablaze in protest. While no lives were lost in the demonstration, the incident has sparked widespread reactions.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, confirmed the arrests at the command’s headquarters in Akure. He condemned the attack and assured that a full investigation was underway to determine the circumstances surrounding both Bobade’s death and the destruction of the police station.
“There are proper institutions to seek justice. We have succeeded in arresting five suspects, and they are currently in our custody at the headquarters,” Afolabi stated.
He also cautioned residents against taking the law into their own hands, emphasizing the importance of due process.
“Ifon cannot function without a police station, and every right-thinking person in the community knows that setting it ablaze was a mistake. When people take such actions, they undermine the rule of law,” he added.
Meanwhile, the family of Tolu Bobade has accused the police of wrongful arrest and brutality, which they claim led to his death.
In a statement released on Monday by Dupe Bobade on behalf of the family, they alleged that Tolu, a minor, was unjustly detained while visiting a sick friend and was subjected to severe torture by officers of the Ifon Police Division.
“On the day of the incident, Tolu Bobade, a minor and innocent soul, was arrested by officers from the Ifon Police Division under the directive of the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Isadare Funminiyi. He was wrongly apprehended alongside others for allegations he knew nothing about. At the police station, he was subjected to brutal torture, leading to his untimely death,” the statement read.
The family further alleged that the police secretly transported Tolu’s body to Adelabu Hospital in Ifon, where it was rejected, and later to FMC Owo, where it was deposited at the morgue without informing his relatives.
“Shockingly, to date, the police have neither informed the family of Tolu’s demise nor disclosed the whereabouts of his body,” the statement added.
Additionally, the Bobade family refuted claims that the police station was attacked by youths, instead describing the community’s reaction as an outcry against injustice and the authorities’ failure to provide an explanation or take responsibility for Tolu’s death.
The incident has intensified concerns over police conduct and human rights violations, with calls for a thorough investigation to ensure justice for the deceased and accountability for those responsible.
