Metro

Serial Phone Thief Caught Fast Asleep In Church

Published

11 months ago

June 3, 2023

A driver based in Ibadan, Oyo State, Saheed Abioye, also known as Anini, has been arrested by the Anti-Cultism Squad of the Osun State Police Command.

The suspect was reported to be returning home after a failed attempt to steal mobile phones at a church in Osogbo when he was caught.

The father of one told City Round when he was paraded at the police headquarters that he had returned to Osogbo from Ibadan, to check on his child, who was living with a relation.

According to him, before he checked on the child, he decided to visit a church in the Alekuwodo area of Osun State, where a vigil was being held, with the intention of stealing the phones of unsuspecting worshippers.

He said, “I got to the church around 10.45pm and sat at the back, waiting for the opportunity to steal mobile phones of people who might want to charge at the back of the church.

“Unfortunately, I was unable to steal anything that fateful day because I slept off as soon as the vigil started and I did not wake up until around 3am.

“By the time I woke up, the vigil had ended and people were already going home, so I left the church premises. I was unable to steal anything.

“When I got to the Alekuwodo area, before Akindeko Market, I saw a police patrol vehicle and some anti-cultism operatives from Dugbe (divisional headquarters, Osogbo). They stopped me and asked what I had on me and I replied that I had my purse and ID card. They searched me and found no incriminating item.

“They later took me back to the church to confirm if truly I was coming from there. When they asked the pastor, he said he did not see me in church, so they took me back to Dugbe Police Station.

“Later, my video was recorded and sent to other stations and some operatives, who had arrested me in the past, identified me as an expert in the theft of phones. I don’t steal cars, motorcycles or any other thing except phones.”

Abioye claimed to have stolen and sold over 18 phones from different parts of the state.

The Osun Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, said the suspect would be arraigned after investigation had been concluded.

Metro

Five Injured As Vehicles Collide In Lagos

Published

6 mins ago

April 28, 2024

Editor

Five yet-to-be-identified persons have sustained varying degrees of injuries in an accident that occurred around 6:00 p.m. at Gbagada Bridge in Lagos State.

This was disclosed in a statement made available to journalists by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, on Sunday.

According to the statement, a three-year-old suffered a head injury, while the four other individuals had fractures in different parts of their bodies.

Taofiq added that a preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of a Benz car with registration number JJJ-219 XU lost control while using a mobile phone and collided with a Volkswagen Commercial bus with registration number APP-46 GZ parked on the roadside for battery repair.

He noted that the driver of the Mercedes car had been turned over to police officers from the Alonge Police Station and that the victims had been taken to Gbagada General Hospital.

The Special Advisor to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, expressed condolences for the injured victims while urging motorists to drive safely.

The statement partly reads, “Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) operatives responded swiftly today at 6:00 PM to a collision on Gbagada Bridge heading towards Gbagada Express Way, Lagos, rescuing a 3-year-old girl and four others.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that a driver of a Benz car (JJJ 219 XU) lost control while using a mobile phone and collided with a Volkswagen commercial bus (APP 46 GZ) parked on the roadside for battery repair.

“Mr Adebayo confirmed that the 3-year-old girl sustained a head injury, while the four others, including the commercial bus driver, suffered fractures in various parts of their bodies.

“The rescued individuals were promptly taken to Gbagada General Hospital by LASTMA officials and Lagos State Ambulance Service personnel.”

Metro

Scarcity: Lagos Filling Station Under Fire For Forcing Customers To Buy Meat Pie Before Selling Fuel

Published

13 mins ago

April 28, 2024

Editor

In a video that surfaced on Twitter over the weekend, a Total filling station said to be located in Igando, Lagos, has been called out for allegedly compelling customers to purchase meat pies before being sold fuel.

This is as many Nigerians are still grappling with the pain of another fuel scarcity that started last week.

Despite assurance from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited that the situation was under control, vehicle owners, commercial drivers, and consumers still have to wait in long queues from a few selling filling stations.

The situation has also seen transport fares jump up while many commuters are left stranded.

The now-viral video shows several customers with jerry cans and another buyer in an SUV waiting for their turn to get fuel.

The recorder of the video could be heard complaining about what he described as an unusual situation.

“I don’t understand what is happening at this Total filling station. How on earth will I be asked to buy meat pie before I buy fuel? What sort of rubbish is this? Is this place open for meat pie or for fuel?

“This Total filling station trying rubbish (sic) with the masses,” he complained to a smiling attendant dressed in black.

The attendant remonstrated with the man for recording the video while a lady dressed in a black dress, who appeared to be affiliated with the station, advised him to ‘go and eat’.

The video immediately generated outrage from many netizens who condemned the actions of the filling station.

@Taohnooni on TikTok urged the consumers to report to the appropriate authorities.

“What’s happening in this country? They should be reported to the appropriate authority. ICPC should take note,” he posted

Flicker Findz, meanwhile urged the complainant to report to the company’s headquarters.

Narrating his ordeal in the hands of a fuel attendant, Marvis said he was asked to give bribes before he could get fuel.

“You never see anything. The fuel attendant told me make I bribe him before he sold me fuel. If not nothing me,” he said.

Baba Egbeshosho tweeted as @flowfemmy lambasted the management of the filling station for their actions.

“Make una come see something. So this is our new business model Total. Coerce customers into paying for a non-essential item before they can buy fuel. Hope u realise that Nigerians have no limits when they push back at oppression. ? Dey play!!!,” he tweeted

Total Nigeria could not be immediately reached for reaction as of the time of filing this story on Sunday.

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Suspected Cultists Who Allegedly Killed Rival In His Daughter’s Presence

Published

3 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit of the Edo State Police Command have arrested members of the Black Axe and Eiye cult groups for the murder of three persons in Auchi, Etsako Local Government Area of the state.

INFO DAILY had reported that one Emmanuel Odiase, an alleged member of the Black Axe group, was killed in the presence of his daughter by members of the Eiye cult group in Auchi.

Spokesperson of the command, Chidi Nwabuzor, who paraded the suspects, said Odiase’s killers were arrested after a hot chase by police operatives and members of the vigilante group.

According to the PPRO, the operatives also recovered arms, cartridges and other dangerous items from the suspects.

He said: “Following the break out of violent attack between Aye and Eiye secret cult confraternities on Thursday 18th April 2024 at south-Ibie in Edo North Area of Edo State where one Umoru was attacked and shot dead by some members of Aye Cult group at Campus gate Auchi, the operatives of South-Ibie Division and Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit of the Command stormed the scene and arrested seven cultists of Black Axe group,” the statement read.

“In another development, on 22/04/2024 another attack was carried out where one Emmanuel Odiase, a member of Black Axe was killed in Auchi by members of the Eiye cult group.

“Subsequently, on 23/04/2024 one Braimoh Fulani, a 43-year-old was killed in his provision shop at campus area in Auchi by members of the Aye cult group who came to his shop with unregistered Lexus 350 saloon car, golden colour.

“With the timely information from members of the public, Police operatives mobilized and gave them hot chase in collaboration with the vigilante group where they were arrested and their weapons recovered.

“Note: The young man in the red shirt is an Aye secret cult member, he received a phone call from his cult members who want to carry out an attack on the late Umoru, that he should leave immediately

“He left the place and Umoru was attacked and shot dead. He was later arrested through a diligent investigation and confessed to the crime. Suspects will soon be charged to court”