A 14-year-old boy, Ayomide Adeghalu, has reportedly been tortured to death by operatives of the Amotekun Corps in Ondo. According to reports, Ayomide was handed over to the local security outfit by his stepmother for punishment after he was accused of stealing the sum of N500 from sales.
The teenager, who was staying with his stepmother at the Ogbonkowo Area of Odojomu in Ondo town, was sent to hawk-cooked food (rice), and could not account for the fund when he returned home.
An anonymous source revealed that the stepmother had earlier flogged the boy to reveal the truth about the stolen money. However, out of annoyance, the woman decided to hand him over to the Amotekun Corps for further punishment. "The teenage boy was subjected to some punishment, which lasted for several hours, despite entreaties made to the stepmother to release him.
She later handed him over to some officials of the Amotekun Corps. He was tortured and became too weak and unconscious. By the time he was rushed to the Specialists Hospital in Ondo, he was confirmed dead by the doctors on duty," the source said.
The case was later reported at the Divisional Police Station, Fagun, in Ondo town. The biological mother of the deceased, Ms Mary, said that she had divorced the father of the boy a few years back due to complicated marital status.
She decried the death of her son, adding that she was informed about the unhealthy condition of the boy by neighbours who knew her as the mother of the child. "It is sad for me to learn that he was being tortured to death by some security officials over missing N500," she added.
Adetunji Adeleye, the Commander of Amotekun Corps, could not be reached for immediate reactions, while the spokesperson for the Ondo police command, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, promised to get back for comments when contacted. The remains of the boy have been moved to the morgue. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for justice for Ayomide on social media.