Metro

Guests Scamper For Safety As Fire Guts Hotel In Owerri

Published

3 years ago

January 25, 2020

Editor

Many guests abandoned their belongings and scampered for safety Friday night at Bohncynth Luxuria Hotel, New Owerri, Owerri State, as midmorning inferno wreaked havoc on the hotel.

Others were seen frantically moving their vehicles out of the hotel’s premises during the pandemonium.

Police officers from the New Owerri Police Division, firefighters, the management of the hotel and sympathizers were already on ground to put the situation under control.

A staff of the hotel who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told newsmen at the scene of the incident that property worth over N22 million was lost in the inferno.

Stating that the actual course of the outbreak was yet to be ascertained, she disclosed that the incident started from the power house.

The staff said, “We thank God that the men of the fire service responded to our distress calls and quenched the fire outbreak. The actual course of the outbreak is not yet known, but it started from the powerhouse. Four generators were destroyed, including electric wires, doors and Windows, roof housing the generators were not spared.”

Speaking to newsmen, the chief fire officer of Imo State, Mr. Geoffrey Okoroafor, said his men responded quickly to distressed calls and prevented the hotel from being razed down completely.

He said he was yet to get briefs from his men to ascertain the level of damage in the hotel.

Accroding to him frantic efforts were made by the firefighters to ensure the outbreak did not affect other parts of the hotel and the surrounding buildings in the area.

However, four heavy-duty generators and two flashy cars were touched by the fire as well as a nearby private building.

PHOTO: File

Metro

Gunmen Kidnap Ondo Monarch, Police Launch Probe

Published

2 hours ago

December 2, 2022

Editor

Some unknown armed men have reportedly kidnapped the traditional ruler of Oso Ajowa- Akoko, in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Clement Olukotun.

It was gathered that the monarch was abducted on Thursday at about 10.15pm, at his residence and taken to an unknown destination.

A source narrated that when the gunmen stormed the residence of the victim, they shot sporadically into the air.

They also shot at the monarch’s main door to gain access into his residential building before whisking him away.

He said, “When they (hoodlums) got to the house, they surrounded the building and started ordering the monarch and other occupants to open the door and surrender willingly, but nobody answered. At this point, they started shooting.

“They destroyed the main door and entered. They terrorised Kabiyesi and his family members before dragging him out and took him away. None of the family members had been contacted, but we knew they were kidnappers.”

The source, however, noted that nobody was killed during the operation which he said lasted for about 30minutes.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Police Command, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami confirmed the development, saying investigation has commenced into the matter.

“It is true but the details of the incident is still not clear. However, police from the Divisional Police headquarters at Oke-Agbe, headquarters of Akoko Northwest Local Government Area of Ondo State, have been deployed in the town to launch investigation into the incident”, the PPRO said.

Metro

Woman Allegedly Sponsors Boyfriend’s UK Trip With Stolen Funds

Published

6 hours ago

December 2, 2022

Editor

A 27-year-old woman, Busayo Alagbe, has been arraigned before the Yaba Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, for allegedly forging bank documents and robbing her employer, Bridgeway Ventures, of N4.5m in the state.

Alagbe was charged with three counts bordering on the conversion of employer funds, stealing and forgery.

The prosecutor, Godwin Oriabure, said the defendant committed the crime between July and November 2022, in the Gbagada area of the state, adding that during interrogation, she confessed to have used the stolen money to sponsor her boyfriend’s travelling expenses to the United Kingdom.

Oriabure told the court that the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 287(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The charge read in part, “That you, Busayo Alagbe, between July and November 2022, at no 17 Olujobi Street, Gbagada Estate, Lagos, in the Yaba Magisterial District, did fraudulently convert the sum of Four-Million Five Hundred and Thirty One Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty Naira, property of Olayinka Blackshear and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate A.O Salawu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1m with two responsible sureties and adjourned the matter till January 19, 2023.

Metro

Delta: Father Kills Daughter For Entering Neighbour’s Room

Published

7 hours ago

December 2, 2022

Editor

A 25-year-old man, Godsgift Uweghwerhen, has been arrested for allegedly flogging his three-year-old daughter to death in Aladja community, in the Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was gathered that Uweghwerhen was at home with his family members and neighbours when he saw his daughter coming out of the room of one of his neighbours.

Uweghwerhen, who became annoyed by his daughter’s action, pounced on her and reportedly used a cane to beat, inflicting injuries on the victim’s body.

Uweghwerhen’s daughter was said to have died as a result of the beating and upon realising the gravity of his action, fled from the scene.

Luck, however, ran out of the victim’s father when vigilantes arrested him at Ubogo community and handed him over to policemen in Ovwian/Aladja Division.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident in a text message on Thursday.