Angry youths in Ifon, the headquarters of the Ose Local Government Area in Ondo State, set fire to a police station on Sunday after chasing away officers on duty. The violent incident followed a dispute between two youth groups in the community on Valentine’s Day.
The conflict began when one of the youth groups reported the clash at the local divisional police station. The police arrested two members of the opposing group, but one of the arrested individuals, Tobi Bobade, died due to alleged police torture, while the other was hospitalized.
This development sparked anger among some community youths, who protested at the police station, eventually attacking it and setting it ablaze.
The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, visited Ifon to assess the situation following the violent protests. According to Funmilayo Odunlami, the state police spokesperson, the crisis began on February 15, 2025, when a fight between two families in Ogbomo Street escalated into a public disturbance. Police intervened, made arrests, and pursued fleeing suspects.
Tobi Bobade was brought to the police station after the incident, appearing weak and was rushed to a nearby hospital. He was later pronounced dead, and his body was sent to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo for a postmortem.
Following Bobade’s death, an angry mob, led by the deceased’s father, launched a violent attack on the police station, destroying the administrative office, the DPO’s office, the station store, and two police vehicles. The fire caused significant damage, but fortunately, no lives were lost as security personnel quickly called for reinforcements.
In response to the attack, the police commissioner warned that such acts of lawlessness would not be tolerated and vowed that the perpetrators would face justice. Authorities urged the public to remain calm and refrain from taking matters into their own hands.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and further updates will be shared as the situation progresses.
