Metro

Edo: Mysterious Fire Guts Building, Leaves Owner’s Grave Building Untouched

Published

2 years ago

December 22, 2023

Rubles of the building

A mysterious early morning fire destroyed a building in Benin City leaving a grave house attached to the structure intact.

Goods worth several millions of naira kept inside shops in the building could not be savaged by youths and fire fighters who tried to put out the blazing fire.

Smoke was seen bellowing from king size refrigerators, sewing machines, generators, wraps of clothes and other merchandise as well as household property inside the affected building.

The roof and wall of the entire building apart from that of the grave house were reduced to rumbles.

Voters and NIN cards as well as other documents were said to have also been lost to the flame.

Residents of Ekiuwa Street, New Market and its environs in Second East Circular road are still struggling to unravel the mysteries of the early morning fire outbreak that destroyed the building leaving a portion that house the owner’s grave, untouched.

A visit to the area, clusters of bewildered locals were seen taking photos of the razed building with their phones as they discussed the fire in discordant opinions.

Traders at a nearby New Market expressed joy that the flame did not spread to the market as their wares in the shops would have been reduced to aches.

It was gathered that the mysterious inferno started about 1:27a.m on Sunday, December 17, 2023.

A resident said the harmattan blaze suddenly dwindled when it approached the grave house attached to the building immediately after the sitting room.

The grave house shares the same roof, ceiling and wall with that of the affected building.

Checks revealed fresh flowers and portrait of a man neatly placed on a grave inside the white painted attached house with slide glass doors.

It was also learnt that there was no electricity supply to the area at the time of the fire outbreak to suggest possible electric spark as remote cause of the fire.

Records at our disposal indicate that this is the first time an attached grave house is surviving fire outbreak in Benin City in passed decades.

Contacted, one Larry Uyi Osadiaye said his late father Mr. Moses Noguese Osadiaye, 83, owner of the building was buried in the said grave after his death on February 6, 2016.

He further stated that his eldest brother Mr. Henry Osadiaye who inherited the building was inside alone when the fire started.

Mr. Larry also stated that the cause of the fire was still unknown as the family has formally reported the Incident at Esigie police station covering the area.

Confirming the fire outbreak, the Public Relations Officer, Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor said one Henry Osadiaye reported the incident.

SP Nwabuzor added that police commenced investigation into the inferno as their findings would be presented to the Commissioner of police CP Mohammed Dankwara for further action.

Metro

Ex-convict Arrested In Edo For Armed Robbery, Possession Of Firearm

Published

32 minutes ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) has arrested a 45-year-old ex-convict, Owen Osas, for alleged unlawful possession of firearms and suspected involvement in a robbery incident.

Osas was reportedly arrested with a cut-to-size single-barrel gun during a covert operation along Fishpond Road in Eyean, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area.

The arrest reportedly comes barely a year after he was released from prison, where he had served time for illegal possession of firearms and other criminal offences.

Osas, who confessed to the latest crime, also admitted to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.

READ ALSO:Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo
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Consequently, a victim of an alleged robbery incident, Reginia Izy, identified Osas as the person who robbed her a day before his arrest.
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The victim narrated that the suspect had approached her residence around 8 p.m., pretending to be familiar before carrying out the attack.
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‎The Deputy Commander Operations of ESSC, Richard Balogun, said the arrest was part of intensified efforts to rid Edo State of criminal elements.

READ ALSO:Edo South Senatorial Seat: Nothing Wrong Seeking Wike’s Support – Ogbeide-Ihama
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‎Balogun explained that operatives conduct both overt patrols and covert operations to track and apprehend suspects.
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He said, ‎“Our men are always on patrol. Some operate in plain clothes as part of covert strategies, while others are stationed at strategic locations.

“Osas, who is a former convict, was arrested with firearms and he also confessed to be a member of the Eiye Confraternity.”
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Metro

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 60-year-old man in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The victim was kidnapped on Saturday while on his way to his residence.

The incident occurred at Jinarere, Alakia in Ibadan.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Ayanlade in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, explained that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim.

Ayanlade said, “Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male and building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle”.

Metro

Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

A 30-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Principle Takeout, Justice Abu Oshioke, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was reportedly attacked by the suspected kidnappers on Saturday while on his way to pick up an order made for his child’s dedication on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers attempted to force him into a nearby bush in a kidnapping attempt. However, he reportedly resisted and tried to escape.

In the course of the struggle, the assailants opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Concerned residents quickly rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The deceased was said to have recently gotten married and welcomed a baby boy.

The tragic event has turned a joyous occasion into a moment of grief for the family.

The shocking development has left the Ekpoma community in deep sorrow, with many residents expressing outrage over the growing insecurity in the area.

Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika has ordered a “full-scale investigation and intensified manhunt for those responsible.”

According to her, the Police, in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters, are actively pursuing the perpetrators through coordinated operations.