Evesworld Blog

There was chaos on Tuesday on Pacific Estate, Ikejiobi Avenue, Ewedogbon, in the Igando area of Lagos State after some militants engaged security operatives in a gun battle for about seven hours. During the encounter, three policemen attached to the Igando Police Division and two residents, identified as Baba Victor and Adedokun, were injured. Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen, who were suspected to be militants, had invaded the community around 6am through the waterways behind the estate. They were said to have looted some shops on the estate. It was learnt that when the matter was reported at the Igando division, a police team was deployed in the area around 8am. The policemen were said to have engaged the bandits in a gun battle, during which three policemen were shot. Although one of the policemen was shot in the head, the police said he survived the attack and was receiving treatment in a government hospital. During the gun battle...

The Nigeria Prisons Service has dismissed a female prison officer, Mary Ikenye, for smuggling alcohol into the Kirikiri prisons in Lagos. The dismissal letter signed on behalf of the Controller-General of Prisons by the officer-in-charge of discipline, DCP Agun Olatunji, stated that Ikenye was found guilty of negative activities which bordered on trafficking. A statement by the Prisons Service Public Relations Officer, Francis Enobore, on Tuesday in Abuja, said the wardress’ action contravened the provisions of sections 14 (i) (a) and  82 (n) of Prisons Act, Cap P.29, LFN, 2004, and was punishable under sections 14 (i) (g) and 83 of the  Act. It noted that her offence posed a threat to the security of the prison formation, adding that the officer had been directed to hand over all government property, including her uniform and Service Identification Card to the authority before leaving. The statement read in part, “The offence is usually viewe...

The police in Ogun on Wednesday arraigned six men in an Ota Chief Magistrates’ Court for burglary. The accused were Bashiru Moshood,25; Task Abiala,25; Nureni Ismail,20; Femi Prune,27; Gbenga Oyenekan,20; and Jimoh Floating,65. The accused persons whose addresses were unknown were arraigned on a three-count charge of burglary, conspiracy and stealing. Prosecutor Chudu Gbesi told the court that the accused persons and others still at large, committed the offences on June 27 at about 12.30 a.m. at Joju, Ota. Gbesi said that the accused persons and their accomplices conspired to break into the house of Folusho Kayode and stole two Laptops, three mobile phones and other property yet to be estimated. He said the offences contravened sections 390(9), 411 and 516 of the Criminal Code Vol.1, Laws of Ogun, 2006. They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Senior Magistrate S.O. Banwo, granted bail to the accused persons bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two su...

Residents of Halleluyah Quaters in the Ibafo area of Ogun State have been thrown into mourning after some gunmen attacked the community and killed an 85-year-old Islamic cleric, Kareem Olaiya. During the two hours raid of houses in the community on Monday, a landlord, Scott Odum, was also abducted after his property was looted. One of his children, who begged the gunmen not to take him away, was hit with the butt of a gun. Our correspondent, who visited the community on Monday, saw Kareem’s corpse where it was laid in a room, as sympathisers thronged the house. Family members, who were just learning about the incident, broke down in tears, as cries of sorrow filled the air. The footprints of the suspected militants were still visible in some of the places where they operated when PUNCH Metro visited. Although the attack reportedly occurred around 2am, as of 12pm when our correspondent left, no security agent had visited the community. PUNCH Me...

The Accident and Emergency Ward of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, was gutted by fire on Tuesday, destroying the multi-million naira building and equipment. Eyewitnesses said the fire began with a loud explosion, as patients and visitors ran in different directions during the commotion created by the fire. A witness, Mrs. Dolapo Haastrup, said, “I was waiting at the side of the building for a relative who was inside when the explosion occurred. Everybody ran away and from where I was, I saw many patients being brought out. Some were on crushes and others on beds. Some of their relatives dared the consequences by forcing their way into the building to save their loved ones.” The Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Deji Bobade, said an electric spark caused the fire and that the ward might be relocated to another building. He said, “The fire started around 4pm, but firefighters from the UCH, Federal Road Safety Corps, the police, and other...

A suspected serial rapist was caught and set ablaze after allegedly raped an eight –year old girl  by residents of Ibeshe, Ikorodu, Lagos. According to reports, he was said to have been involved in this act for a long period but met his waterloo after raping the eight-year girl. He was caught and apprehended at Ibeshe Ikorodu and burnt to death by some angry mobs. The raping took place in an uncompleted building during the night vigil of one celestial church, and he was caught hiding in one primary school.

The Police on Tuesday arraigned a 21-year-old teacher, Matthew Sodake, at an Ota Magistrates’ Court for allegedly having oral sex with a 14-year old pupil. The accused, whose address is unknown, is facing an assault charge. The prosecutor, Sgt. Chudu Gbesi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 12 at about 8p.m. at Ambassador Star Comprehensive Secondary School, Answer, Ota in Ogun. Gbesi told the court that the accused, a teacher in the school, lured the 14-year-old student into the one of the classrooms and had oral sex with him. He said that the offence contravened Section 216 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun,2006. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Senior Magistrate, Mr. S.O Banwo granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum. Banwo said that the sureties must be residents within the court’s jurisdiction and should be gainfully employed. He also ordered the s...

A suspected Boko Haram member, Musbau Ishola, escaped death on Monday in the Mile Two area of Lagos State as he was almost lynched by an angry mob. The PUNCH learnt that the suspect, identified as Ishola, who wore a turban on a military cap, also had a long beard. Acting on suspicion, an angry mob was reported to have swooped on him and beaten him up before the intervention of police operatives in the area. A police source said, “The man had a long beard and put on a turban on a military cap. He was coming from the Oke Afa area around 5pm when people, who thought he was a member of the Boko Haram set, accosted him. They beat him to a coma. “They were about to lynch him when we got there and rescued him. We have transferred the case to the police command headquarters.” The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that investigations were ongoing. She said, “The suspect’s elder brother claimed he’s a militar...

The kidnappers of Kayode Bajomo, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Santos bus stop, Isawo in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State have demanded a ransom of N100m. Our correspondent learnt that the case had been transferred from the Owutu Police Division to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikorodu, of the Lagos State Police Command. PUNCH Metro reported on Monday that the kidnappers, who disguised as new church members, had around 7am on Sunday come into the church. Our correspondent had reported that the gunmen, after sighting the pastor, brought out weapons and ordered him to come with them, after which they disappeared into the creek. There was confusion thereafter at the parish, which made the Sunday service to end abruptly. One of the witnesses had said the gunmen, believed to be Ijaw militants, came into the church with bibles, and met the pastor and four other members. When our correspondent got to the area on Monday, one of the fa...

Fire razed two tankers on Monday at the Cele bus stop on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos State, during which two persons died. Our correspondent gathered that the fire, which started around 4pm, was caused by one of the trucks – a tanker carrying 33,000 litres of petrol – which was discharging fuel by the expressway. It was learnt that the driver of the tanker, as well as the motor boy, were killed in the inferno. PUNCH Metro learnt that the fire spread to the second truck, which was on the Cele-Ikotun Bridge, and the two tankers were razed. Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and the police were said to have responded to the emergency. The inferno reportedly caused gridlock for hours on the expressway. The NEMA spokesperson, South-West Zone, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the fuel also spilled into some drainage channels. He said, “Rescue operation is still on (...

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a landlord, Gbade Metibemu, for allegedly stabbing his tenant of four months, Bright Abraham, to death on Apollo Street in the Makoko area of the state.  PUNCH Metro learnt that Metibemu attacked the 35-year-old Abia State indigene with a knife for refusing to vacate his plank apartment after a week-long disagreement. Our correspondent was told that the suspect had warned the victim to stop soiling the slum with the faeces of his baby. When the warning did not yield any result, the suspect was reported to have threatened to kill Abraham. Last Thursday, around 10pm, the father of four was preparing to sleep when an argument ensued between him and the landlord which degenerated into a fight. Metibemu was alleged to have got a knife with which he stabbed Abraham in the chest. He allegedly rushed to the Adekunle Police Station to report that he had been injured by his tenant. He was, however, detained ...

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting behind closed doors with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo, decked in a blue agbada and cap to match, arrived the Presidential Villa, Abuja for the meeting at about 12.54pm. He was driven to the forecourt of the President’s office in a black Sports Utility Vehicle marked ABJ425 PY.   The former President was accompanied by one of his daughters. Details later.

Visiting FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has arrived the Presidential Villa, Abuja for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. Infantino arrived at about 1:52pm. He was accompanied by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung; and the President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick. At the time he arrived, Buhari was still meeting former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Details later…