Controversy has surrounded the death of an unidentified man who reportedly died a few hours after leaving a police station in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. According to reports, the man was arrested by a team of policemen on Saturday and died shortly after being released from the police station where he had been detained. Allegations claim he was tortured in the police cell, leading to his death.
The deceased was among several people arrested in a hotel in the town by the police team last Saturday. A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that after allegedly torturing the man, the police noticed his health deteriorating and granted him bail of N5,000. “Every other person arrested along with the deceased was granted bail with N20,000, and the money was paid through a PoS machine placed at the police station,” the source said. The source added that the family secured his bail on Tuesday and took him to the hospital, where he complained of pains all over his body before later dying.
The Ondo State Police Command denied the allegations, calling them a plot to smear its image. In a statement issued on Thursday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, the police said: “On Monday, 13 March 2023, we were informed that suspected political thugs were in town and lodged in different brothels within Ore and its environs. Based on this information, officers attached to the Ore division embarked on a routine raid of black/flash points and brothels where some of the miscreants were believed to be staying. Suspects arrested were screened and released on bond the next day.
“However, on Wednesday, 15 March 2023, a manager of a brothel in the area called the DPO to report that some people had brought a lifeless body to his office, claiming the man died a day after his release. The same group threatened to destroy and burn down the Ore Police Divisional Headquarters, but they were dispersed by the men on duty.
“It is pertinent to state that the Ondo State police command does not handle issues relating to police brutality or incivility toward the public with kid gloves; we are committed to upholding our primary duty—protection of lives and property—with a high level of professionalism. The command will not be deterred by the evil concocted by some people who want to smear the image of the state police command.”
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