Angry youths in Ifon, the headquarters of Ose Local Government Area in Ondo State, have attacked the divisional police station, forcing officers to flee and setting the station on fire.

The violence erupted after a clash between two youth groups in the community on Valentine’s Day. One group reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrest of two individuals from the opposing group. Unfortunately, one of the detainees allegedly died from police torture, while the other is being treated in a hospital. This incident sparked outrage among some of the local youths, who then protested at the police station, chased away the officers, and set the station ablaze.

The protest continued into Sunday morning, prompting Ondo State Commissioner of Police Wilfred Afolabi to visit the town for an on-the-ground assessment of the situation.

According to a statement from police spokesperson Funmilayo Odunlami, preliminary reports indicated that the conflict began on February 15, 2025, when a dispute between two families on Ogbomo Street escalated into a public fight. Police officers from the Ifon Division, led by an inspector, responded quickly, intervened, and made arrests while some suspects fled.

Later, one of the young men involved in the fight, Tobi Bobade, was brought to the station by a man named Mr. Losilosi. Bobade appeared weak and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead shortly after. His body has been sent to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo for a postmortem examination.

In response, an angry mob led by Bobade’s father launched a violent attack on the police station, damaging the administrative office, the DPO’s office, the station store, and two exhibit vehicles. The fire set by the mob caused significant destruction, though fortunately, no lives were lost, as security personnel quickly called for reinforcements to secure the area.

The police commissioner condemned the attack, stating that such acts of lawlessness would not be tolerated, and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The police also appealed for calm, urging the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. “Investigations are ongoing, and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” the statement concluded.