Youngster, Oluwatobi Badmus, Was Teargased To Death—Ondo Police Officer

Late mohammed Badmus

The late boy's dad

A police officer with the Ondo State command of the Nigeria Police “B Division” in Akure has detailed to SaharaReporters how his fellow officers tortured 20-year-old Mohammed Oluwatobi Badmus to death. The youngster’s journey to a gruesome death began when a self-styled Christian prophet accused him of stealing a smart phone.Mr. Badmus died last week at Hopeland Hospital, a private medical facility in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Our source accused his fellow police officers, led by Corporal Adesola Awodeyi, of torturing the deceased to death.” said the source, adding that he felt helpless as the corporal tormented the young man with the approval of the “prophet.” “The boy was tear gassed at close range, after he had been beaten mercilessly at the mini-detention room in the station,” the officer said. He disclosed that the beating and torture with teargas was to coerce Badmus to confess to stealing the phone.“The boy refused to confess to the crime and he was battered as a result. Some of the other officers at the police station heard the screams of the boy. They advised Corporal Awodeyi and other two officers to take it easy with the boy, but they refused.”

“We have no legal record of the boy in our station now because they didn't even ask him to write a statement,” said our source. He added: “The statement should have been the first thing, but Corporal Awodeyo forgot to initiate that. Already he has put himself into trouble for that."We can't deny the fact that he was brought down here. He was actually here but we have no legal record backing up his presence.”Our source disclosed that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the station had asked for Badmus’ statement as soon as he received a petition on the youngster’s torture, adding that the corporal was unable to produce any.“The DPO learned about the case through a petition sent to him from the Commissioner of Police. He summoned Corporal Awodeyo for the statement,” said our source. According to the source, the rogue corporal sent for Oluwaseun Badmus, the sister of the deceased, to come over and write a statement on behalf of her late brother, but she refused. SaharaReporters was told that Mr. Badmus was dragged into the station in handcuffs, his hands secured behind him. Our source said the youngster’s body was bruised, his face swollen, and his eyes bloodshot and nearly swollen shut.A medical report issued by the hospital where the youngster died also stated that Oluwatobi Badmus suffered serious internal injuries. The report added that the victim had inhaled a chemical that caused serious bodily damage.“The boy was brought in here and he was breathing through the help of an oxygen and we attended to him immediately after they had collected a card,” said a staff at the hospital. He added that the deceased “had inhaled a heavy dose of the substance of a canister which had already damaged his brain and caused serious disorder in his system before he died.”Our correspondent learnt that the deceased was rushed to three hospitals, none of which could rescue him, before he finally died.Our police source disclosed that the killer corporal and the prophet have been arrested and are in police custody. “The case is now being handled by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ondo State Police Command, Akure area command,” said our source. Too sad

Culled from sahara news