- Irate mob burns down station as family alleges severe torture
How did Tolu Bobade died? Was he tortured to death inside police cell or he died from the mob beating he received before he was taken to the police division in Ifon, headquarters of Ose Local Government Area?
The deceased teenager’s family is in disagreement with the police over the latter’s claim that he was brought to the station already weakened.
Tolu’s death had sparked riot in Ifon as aggrieved youths took to the streets in protest. They had stormed the premises of the police division, chased all the policemen away and set the building ablaze. Attempts made by the police to reinforce were resisted until the arrival of the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi.
Irked by the sight of the destruction at the Police Division, the CP ordered full-scale investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the incident and bring the culprits to justice.
Police spokesman, Funmilayo Odunlami, said in a statement that preliminary investigation showed that the incident began on February 15. She said a dispute between two families on Ogbomo Street, Ifon, escalated into a public fight.
She stated that police officers from Ifon Division, led by an Inspector, responded promptly, moved to the scene, intervened and made arrests while some suspects fled.
“Later, one Tolu Bobade, one of the young men involved in the fight, was brought to the station by one Mr. Lishilishi. He appeared weak and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
“He was later pronounced dead while receiving treatment. His remains have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, for post-mortem examination.
“While officers were at the station, an angry mob, led by the deceased’s father, launched a violent attack on the station.
“The administrative office, DPOs office, the station store and two (2) exhibit vehicles were affected by the inferno caused by the mob.
“Fortunately, no lives were lost in the fire as security personnel acted swiftly and called for reinforcements to secure the premises.”
But an uncle to the late Tolu, Dupe Bobade, accused the police of lying, saying his nephew was never involved in any fight.
He said: “On that fateful day, the boy was going on the road and saw a police officer brutalising one of his friends. So he went there to beg the officer to leave his friend.
“As he was asking what happened, the police turned to him and handcuffed him. In the process, a guy called Lishilishi drove down with a bike and told the policeman not to handcuff Tolu.
“He told the policeman that is a small boy and was not one of the troublemakers in the community. But the officer refused.
“At that time, he had already handcuffed one of the deceased person’s hands. But Lishilushi asked the police to remove the handcuffs. The officer refused.
“Lishilshi offered to bring him to the station and see the DPO. Then the police officer released the boy with handcuffs on one hand.
“Lishilishi then put the boy on his own bike and took him to the police station with handcuffs.
“On getting there, the DPO was not at the station. Lishilishi then appealed to the police officer to remove Tolu’s handcuffs and allow him take the child back.
“He is not a troublesome and he is even a small boy. But the police officer said no.
“Following the policeman’s refusal to release the boy, Lishilishi said, ‘Okay, put him in your custody. I will come back when the DPO is around’.
“So Lishilishi left the station.
“Lishilishi is an indigene of the community. He also operates a commercial motorcycle (also known as okada). Everyone knows him in the town.
“Less than 30 minutes later, they called Lishilishi that policemen have brutalised the boy and he had slumped.
“They brutali,sed and tortured him at the station. So after he slumped they rushed him to Adelabo Hospital in the community.
“But before getting to Adelabo Hospital, the boy gave up. Then they took him inside Adelabo Hospital.
“After that, they took the corpse from Ifon to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo without even informing the family.
“It was people at the Federal Medical Centre that had to call and inform the family in Ifon.”
In a letter addressed to the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Aiyedun Olusegun Odusola, the Bobade family insisted that Tolu was subjected to severe torture which led to his death on February, 15.
A statement issued by the family said: “We earnestly request a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding Tolu’s arrest, detention and death.
“The Bobade family seeks solace in the assurance that justice will prevail, not only to honour the memory of Tolu but also to reinforce the rule of law and deter future violations.
“We place our trust in your esteemed office to ensure that justice is served.”
Meanwhile, CP Afolabi said five people had been attested in connection with the burning of the Divisional Police Station in Ifon even as he cautioned residents against breaking the law.
Afolabi said: “There are proper institutions to seek justice. We have succeeded in arresting five suspects, and they are currently in our custody at the headquarters.
“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.
“My advice is that in future incidents, let us act with civility and follow due process instead of resorting to violence.”
