Metro

Double Tragedy As Man Punches Relative To Death During Father’s Burial

Published

1 month ago

April 16, 2024

Editor

A man named Okekenu Gbadebo allegedly punched a 37-year-old relative, Adebayo Gbenro, to death in the Ijemo-Agbadu area, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Saturday.

It was gathered that the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. when an argument was said to have broken out between the deceased and Gbadebo while making arrangements for their late father’s burial ceremony at their family house in Ìjemò-Agbadu.

A police source who was privy to the matter when it was reported at the Oke-Itoku Divisional Police Headquarters but spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the case, stated that Gbadebo was said to have punched the deceased in the chest following the heated argument.

Also, the victim’s sister, identified as Bose Ajani, was said to have told the police, according to a police document sighted by The PUNCH on Monday, that the deceased collapsed shortly after he was punched in the chest.

The incident was said to have thrown the family members who had gathered for the burial party which was slated for the next day, into a state of pandemonium and chaos.

“The family members gathered to prepare for the final burial of their late father, scheduled to take place on Sunday. But while the arrangements were ongoing, there was an argument between Gbadebo and Gbenro.

“Nobody thought it could degenerate into a fight. It was unexpected when Gbadebo suddenly hit Gbenro in the chest. Gbenro immediately slumped as a result of the punch and was rushed down to a hospital, where he was declared dead by a doctor on duty,” the cop stated.

While confirming the incident to The PUNCH correspondent via a WhatsApp message on Monday, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said Gbadebo was arrested shortly after the matter was reported at a police station.

She said, “The victim and suspect are relatives. They went for a burial ceremony at their family house in Abeokuta. It was during the arrangements for the burial that an argument ensued between the duo. Gbadebo reportedly hit the deceased in the chest, who collapsed immediately after.

“He was rushed to Ijaye General Hospital where he was subsequently confirmed dead. The corpse has been deposited at the hospital mortuary for postmortem examination. In the meantime, we have arrested the suspect, and the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough investigation.”

In 2018, a 32-year-old man named, Julius Oliseh, was said to be arrested by the command for allegedly stabbing 23-year-old Isikilu Shittu to death at a burial party in Mowe community in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.

An argument, it was gathered, had ensued between Oliseh and Shittu, before the suspect reportedly broke a bottle and stuck it in Shittu’s neck, which led to his death.

The erstwhile command spokesperson, Oyeyemi Abimbola, said, “Akeem reported that he was at a burial party with his brother in Ogunru village via Mowe when an argument ensued between the suspect and his late brother over an undisclosed minor matter.

“Consequently, he said the suspect broke a bottle and stabbed the victim in the neck, and he died on the spot.”

Metro

Suspected Kidnapper Dies After Gun Battle With Police In Delta

Published

12 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

A leader of a kidnap syndicate, Joel Joseph has been reported killed.

He died after a gun battle with the Police Special Squad in Inene Community, Ughelli North Local Government Area.

The Police also recovered from the deceased suspect, one AK47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of live ammunition.

According to Daily Post, the suspect died at the General Hospital, Ughelli where he was taken for treatment after the encounter.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe confirmed the report in a statement signed and made available to newsmen.

He said the suspect who is a native of Ekakpamre Community in Ughelli North LGA opened fire on the police operatives upon sighting them.

According to SP Edafe, “In the ensuing gun duel, the suspect sustained serious gunshot injuries and was taken to the General Hospital Ughelli where he died while receiving treatment.”

He said, “Efforts are being intensified to arrest other gang members as contained in the intel.”

Metro

Fear In Anambra Community Over Missing 19 Rifles

Published

1 day ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

Fears and concerns have heightened over the disappearance of about 19 pump action guns reportedly donated to the local vigilante security team in the Awada community in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The PUNCH gathered that the whereabouts of the guns became unknown during the handing over of the community’s security equipment to a newly engaged security outfit.

The development caused a mild drama at the community town hall on Sunday, when the community leaders, led by its newly-elected President-General, Patrick Oyeduba, and the executive members, discovered that out of the 27 pump action guns donated to the outgoing local vigilante, only eight were handed over, while the remaining 19 could not be accounted for.

The handing over of the security items, including the pump action guns, vehicles, motorcycles and other security gadgets was supervised by the police team from the Area Commander in Ogidi led by the leader of the patrol team, Inspector Hyginus Giwonke.

Members of the community had in April, elected new executive members of the landlord association of the area, where Oyeduba emerged as the new President-General of the Awada Landlord Association.

Oyeduba, who spoke to journalists at the end of the handover, said the change of community leadership necessitated a total overhaul in the security architecture in the area to fortify security in the area.

He said, “Today, our community is changing its security architecture and personnel. A new security outfit under the Nigeria Police Community Policing led by Commander Jude Akachukwu has taken over today.

“This development became necessary because we want to fortify the security in the area by bringing in new personnel who will be loyal to the new leadership of the community.

“In the past, we had lots of security concerns even though we had the local vigilante security team in place. In the last dispensation, the community witnessed many reported cases of stealing, kidnapping, burglary, armed robberies and attacks carried out by hoodlums around the community. This shows that the security on the ground then was not active and it became necessary for us as the new leadership to make the required change.

“The former security team did not live up to expectations and there are fears they might not be loyal to the new leadership, hence the need to change and overhaul the security apparatus of the community. With this development, there is a new dawn for the Awada community in terms of security as the people can now sleep with their two eyes closed.”

Oyeduba, while lamenting over the missing guns, said an official report would be made about the worrisome development.

Earlier, while advising the new security team, the Inspector from the Ogidi Area Command, Giwonke, who supervised the handover, told the personnel to ensure they were security conscious at all times.

The commander of the new security team, Jude Ukachukwu, assured the community of adequate security of lives and property.

“We will ensure that the people of Awada are well protected. We are also using this opportunity to fire a warning to the hoodlums disturbing the community’s peace because there would not be a hiding place for any criminal elements and criminalities in Awada anymore,” he added.

Metro

Police Rescue Two Toddlers Locked Up in Lagos Apartment

Published

1 day ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has rescued two infants who were locked up in an apartment on Adelakun Street, in the Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State.

The toddlers, The PUNCH gathered, were found in a state of neglect when the rescue operation took place.

A rights group, Advocate for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, alleged that the mother of the infants had been grappling with substance abuse.

The Chief Operating Officer of the group, Ebenezer Omejalile, who disclosed this to our correspondent on Sunday, said the residents in the area alerted the group to the development.

He said, “According to the informants, the mother, purportedly struggling with substance abuse issues, would lock her children inside their apartment and remain absent for the entirety of the day.

“These two minors were left to fend for themselves. They eat, defecate, sleep and wake up locked up in the room yet nothing was being done. The DPO of the Red House Police Station was duly informed about it and the infants were rescued.”

In a video watched by our correspondent, one of the infants could be seen crying in the locked-up apartment. In a separate video, the children were seen eating after the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, Omejalile said it was the second time the police would rescue the toddlers in such a situation.

According to him, the rescue operation was carried out by the former Divisional Police Officer but the children were returned to their mother after being placed under the care of government authorities.

READ ALSO: Gunmen Kidnap A’Ibom Monarch

He said, “The incident was initially reported at the same police station several months ago. The then DPO promptly responded to the distress call and rescued the babies from their mother’s custody.

“Shockingly, despite the initial intervention by law enforcement, it has come to light that the children were subsequently returned to their mother’s care. This decision has left many baffled, including the former DPO who ensured the babies were placed under the care of government agencies.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development.

He said, “The children were rescued. They are now in safe hands.”