A 14-year-old boy in Ogun State, Nigeria, died by suicide after locals teased him about sending a gift and love letter to a girl, leading police to arrest several people and demand payments for their release despite the family’s decision against legal action.
Pelumi, the teenager, sent an anonymous gift and letter to Adijat around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11, 2025.
He stood at a distance while someone delivered it. Adijat asked about the sender, and residents identified Pelumi.
They joked lightly that a boy his age gifting a girl meant he seemed ready for marriage.
Rukayyat, Adijat’s mother, told Sahara Reporters the teasing stayed harmless. “People around recognised him and then stated that he was gifting a girl something at such a young age,” she said.
“They jokingly stated that since he could send a gift to a girl at such tender age, he seems ready to marry.” No one harmed or shouted at Pelumi, but he ran away.
By 7 p.m., residents discovered he had killed himself.Pelumi’s parents chose not to pursue the matter.
Yet, on Thursday, officers from Onipaanu Division arrested Adijat, Rukayyat, two women who teased him, and a man who tried to rescue Pelumi at the scene.
Rukayyat described the ordeal: “My daughter and myself were detained; they said my daughter was responsible for the boy’s death and refused to release us until we paid N30,000.
How is it our fault that the boy went to kill himself? My daughter did not even have any relationship with him and because she asked who brought a gift, the police said she caused his death.”
The rescuer paid N70,000 for release. Police demanded N250,000 each from the two women.
A resident criticized the actions, saying, “The police have turned the situation to cash making venture charging different amounts from those they arrested.
How would you say someone who raised questions on why a boy of 14 sent a gift and letter is responsible for his death?
They did not even harm him or shout at him; it was just normal jibes.”
DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the Ogun State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, acknowledged inquiries but offered no response by press time.
The incident exposes vulnerabilities in adolescent mental health, where light teasing can trigger severe outcomes.
It also renews concerns over police extortion in Nigeria, a persistent issue in community tragedies.