A 14-year-old boy, Ayomide Adeghalu, has allegedly been tortured to death by the operatives of the Amotekun Corps in Ondo, Peoples Gazette has learnt.

Ayomide, it was gathered, 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 impeccable source, who spoke to The Gazette, on Monday, said the stepmother had earlier flogged the boy to unravel the truth about the stolen fund

The source, who pleaded anonymity, revealed that out of annoyance, the woman decided to hand over the boy to the operatives of 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,” he told our reporter.

The source added that the case was later reported at the Divisional Police Station, Fagun, in Ondo town.

“The remains of the boy have also been moved to the morgue,” he further said.

Speaking on the case, the biological mother of the deceased, Ms Mary said that she had a few years back divorced the father of the boy over complicated marital status.

She also 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.

“I was surprised about the death of Ayomide because he was hale and hearty the last time I saw him.

“He never complained of any ailment to me. It is sad for me to learn that he was being tortured to death by some security officials over missing N500,” the mother of the deceased added.

Adetunji Adeleye, the Commander of Amotekun Corps, could not be reached for immediate reactions.

The Gazette made several attempts to contact him through his mobile phone and a text message but he was not responding.

Also, the spokesperson for the Ondo police command, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, promised to get back for comments when contacted.

She was yet to get back as of the time of filing this report.