A teenage boy has died after being brutally beaten for allegedly stealing cocoa pods from a farm in Akungba, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Ondo State Police Command, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said the incident occurred on September 20, 2025, at Akunmi Quarters, Akungba.
Police spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, disclosed that the boy was rushed to the station in an unconscious state after the assault.
Officers immediately directed that he be taken to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead around 5:36 p.m.
The police said the suspect who assaulted the victim has been arrested, while the deceased’s remains were deposited in the hospital morgue for autopsy.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Akure, for further investigation.
Condemning the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, warned residents against jungle justice, stressing that no grievance or crime justifies taking the law into one’s hands.
“Citizens must resist the temptation of self-help and always report infractions or disputes to the Police for appropriate legal action,” Lawal said, while commiserating with the victim’s family.
The Command assured the public that justice would be served and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.