Ondo youths attack police station over colleague’s death

A crisis broke out in Ifon Community, the headquarters of Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State as some youths staged a protest against the death of a man simply identified as Tobi in the police station in the town.

PUNCH Metro gathered on Sunday that two youth groups in the community fought among themselves during last Friday’s Valentine’s Day, leading to the police arresting the deceased and one other but friends of the deceased were said to have got the information that he had died in the police custody on Saturday morning.

Angered by the development, the youths were said to have stormed the Divisional Police Station, on Saturday, chased out the policemen on duty and burnt down the station. It was also learnt that the angry youths went to the residence of the person who reported the case to the police and also razed down his house.

However, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami,  the Commissioner of Police, Mr Wilfred Afolabi, had visited the community to calm the situation and ordered a full investigation into the incident.

In the statement, the CP, who condemned the burning down of the station, vowed that the perpetrators would be made to face the wrath of the law.

The statement read, “The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Wilfred Afolabi, has visited Ifon for an on-the-spot assessment of areas affected in the attack by some members of the community.  The CP strongly condemned the attack and arson on the Divisional Police Station and ordered a full-scale investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the incident and to bring those responsible to justice.

“Preliminary reports indicate that the incident began on February 15, 2025, when a dispute between two families on Ogbomo Street, Ifon, escalated into a public fight. Officers from the Ifon Division, led by an inspector, responded promptly, moved to the scene, intervened, and made arrests while some suspects fled.

“Later, one Tobi Bobade, one of the young men involved in the fight, was brought to the station by one Mr. Losilosi. 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 a postmortem examination.

“While officers were at the station, a mob, led by the deceased’s father, launched a violent attack on the station, the administrative office, DPOs office, the station store and two 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.”

According to the statement, the CP, during the visit, met with the Chairman of the Ose Local Government Area and some community leaders and other stakeholders in the community, on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, to commiserate with the family of the deceased.

“He condemned the attack on the station as he vowed that such acts of lawlessness will not be tolerated. He assured that all those responsible for this criminal act will face the full weight of the law.”

Afolabi urged the public to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their hands while noting that “investigations are ongoing, and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”