A police station in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, was set on fire by angry youths following the alleged death of a young man in police custody. The youths claimed that the victim, Tobi Bobade, was tortured to death after being arrested.
However, the Ondo State Police Command denied that Bobade died in their custody, stating that he died while receiving treatment at a hospital. According to the Command’s spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, Bobade was brought to the station after a dispute between two families escalated into a public fight.
The police commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi, condemned the attack on the police station and ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident. He vowed to bring those responsible for the arson to justice.
The incident began on February 15, 2025, when a dispute between two families on Ogbomo Street, Ifon, escalated into a public fight. Officers from Ifon Division responded promptly, intervened, and made arrests while some suspects fled.
Bobade, one of the young men involved in the fight, was brought to the station by a man identified as Mr. Losilosi. He appeared weak and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention but was later pronounced dead while receiving treatment.
The angry mob, allegedly led by Bobade’s father, attacked the police station and set it on fire. The administrative office, the DPO’s office, the station store, and two exhibit vehicles were destroyed in the inferno.
Fortunately, no lives were lost, as security personnel swiftly called for reinforcements to secure the premises. The police commissioner met with the local government chairman, community leaders, and other stakeholders, expressing sympathy to Bobade’s family and condemning the violent actions of the mob.
Source: Vanguard
