Collapsed Church kills 10

NSCDC officer arraigned for raping teenager

Police arrest kidnapper of Edo-based pastor

...Many trapped, 4 taken to hospital

TEN worshipers were reportedly killed, with an unspecified number trapped when the building housing Salvation Ministry, Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State collapsed.

It was gathered that over 35 persons, including children, women and men were rescued unhurt, while four persons were rushed to the Asaba Specialist Hospital.

The building, which is being used for the first time reportedly collapsed at about 5:55 pm during Tuesday evening service.

It was also gathered that the building, which is over 10 years old, was initially designed as a plaza before the church bought it for N300 million and started reconstruction works on the one storey building.

A church member, who simply identified herself as Grace, said the service was ongoing when the building collapsed saying: "We were clapping and praying when suddenly we heard the cracking and the building swallowed the children section."

According to her, they came for evening service to break the day's fasting with a communion service when the building collapsed.

A woman, who was wailing at the scene, said her three children were among those trapped in the building.

At press time, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Chief Patrick Ukah; state Commissioner for Health, Dr Ononye Mordi; team of Red Cross officers, firefighters, police officers and men of Delta State Emergency Management Agency were on ground for rescue operation.

NSCDC officer arraigned for raping teenager

AN officer of the NSCDC, Olukayode Adebayo, has been charged to court for raping a 13-year-old girl.

It was gathered that the officer committed the offence at Peace Avenue, Afao Road, Ado-Ekiti, December 25, 2021.

The offence runs contrary to the law and is punishable under Section 31 of the Child Right Laws of Ekiti State, 2012

The victim revealed in her statement to the police: “I went to our shop on the instruction of my mother to bring some banana and kolanuts for her. On my way back, the defendant, who was on a motorcycle, met me on the road, I was asked to mount the motorcycle for him to assist me home and I agreed.

“On my way, he took me to an uncompleted building and have carnal knowledge of me, my crying attracted passers-by who took me home. I explained to my mother and later reported the incident at the Police Station.”

When the matter came up for hearing at the Ado-Ekiti Magistrate;s Court, the presiding magistrate, Mojisola Salau, remanded the suspect at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre, pending further legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Barber stabs neighbour to death for admiring his wife

Policemen at the Sabo Division of the Lagos State Police Command are on the trail of a barber identified simply as Keke, who allegedly stabbed his neighbour to death, Monday night, in the Iwaya area of Lagos,  on an allegation that the deceased was making advances at his pregnant wife.

The barber,  who resides at  3, Akintola Street, Iwaya, returned home from his shop about 10.30 pm, only to be informed by a neighbour with an undisclosed identity that another neighbour, Daniel Adeitan, was admiring his pregnant wife.

Residents, who spoke with journalists said the barber, rushed into his one-room apartment, came out with a kitchen knife and headed for the accused’s apartment.

On sighting Keke with the knife, the accused, 22-year-old Adeitan, who was eating in front of his room, hurriedly ran inside. But before he could lock the door, the barber had gained access.

He allegedly stabbed Adeitan in the chest and abandoned him in the pool of his blood.

One of the residents, Mr Nmadu Ndubuisi, told Vanguard: “When Keke rushed into Adeitan’s room, Daniel’s pregnant sister pleaded with him to hear her brother out, that it was a mere allegation. He shoved her aside and made for his target.

“She raised the alarm that alerted other tenants. By the time we rushed there, Adeitan could not talk. He had the looks of someone begging for help. He only stretched his hand to us, apparently begging to be taken to the hospital.”

On realising the magnitude of his deed, Keke fled with his pregnant wife. Other tenants also took to their heels for fear of being arrested by the Police. They were yet to return at about 6.30 pm yesterday.

The spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Ade Ajisebutu, who confirmed the incident, said: “As soon as the incident was reported, police detectives attached to Sabo Division immediately visited the scene. The victim was taken to Harvey Road Hospital Yaba but died while being attended to.

“The body has been deposited at the Yaba Mainland Hospital’s morgue. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has directed that the case be transferred to the Homicide Section of the State CID for diligent investigation. 

"He has also directed that all efforts should be made to arrest the fleeing suspect and bring him to justice. Therefore, the CP enjoins anyone with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing suspect to give it to the police for prompt and necessary actions.”

Police arrest kidnapper of Edo-based pastor

SOME suspected kidnappers of a Benin-based pastor have been arrested by operatives of the Delta State Police Command with the cleric’s Lexus 330 SUV and N400,000, which was part of N500,000 paid as a ransom fee to his abductors, recovered.

The statement from the office of the Delta State Police command read: “On 10/01/022 at about 1030hrs, the DPO, Oghara Division, CSP Jimoh Hassan, received information from the DPO new Etete Division in Benin City, that on 9/1/2022, a pastor was kidnapped with his Lexus 330 SUV with number plate KWL 510 BH black in colour.

“After a painstaking technical intelligence-led investigation, it revealed that the vehicle was parked along Ibori Road in Oghara.

“The DPO, Oghara Division detailed and led operatives to the area where the said vehicle was sighted. Upon sighting the vehicle, the operatives laid ambush and waited for the suspects to show up.

“Three men later appeared to pick the vehicle and the operatives rounded them up, but two of the suspects escaped while one of them named Osagie Felix,  36, of H & H Ologbo in Edo State was arrested.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the kidnapping syndicate that abducted the pastor.”

Saying that the suspect led the police to a hotel in Oghareki where they were hibernating, the statement said: “Upon arrival at the hotel, the owner of the hotel aided the escape of the two other suspects.

“The suspect, Osagie Felix, led operatives to his room in the hotel and one cut to size double barrel pistol, six live cartridges and N410,000, which was part of the N500,000 ransom, were recovered.

“Suspect also led the operatives to another room where another double barrel pistol, 10 live cartridges and a laptop were also recovered. The victim’s vehicle was also recovered to the station. Manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.”

Culled from Vanguard