Metro

Why I Set Abaze My Stepchildren – Suspect

Published

3 years ago

November 9, 2022

A 64-year-old man, Ojo Joseph, who reportedly set his five stepchildren ablaze in Ondo town, Ondo State, was on Wednesday paraded at the state Police Command, Akure, the state capital.

The suspect allegedly committed the crime while the victims were asleep following a disagreement between him and their mother at the Fagun Area of Ondo town last Saturday.

One of the stepchildren reportedly died at the scene of the incident while two others died at the hospital.

Parading the suspect, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, said the suspect would be charged to court after the completion of investigation.

The PPRO confirmed that three of the five victims had died at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where they were receiving treatment.

Speaking, the 64-year-old suspect said he committed the dastardly act out of anger because his wife and the children did gang up to beat him up in his house whenever he had a quarrel with their mother.

He said, “On that day (last Friday) at about 7 pm, I had a quarrel with my wife and those children joined my wife to beat me, I was even injured and that is how they do whenever we quarrel. So, after they have all slept, out of anger, I went to get petrol and poured it into their room and put fire.

“Before now, my wife didn’t take care of me again and yet whenever quarrel happened between us, she and her children would all gang up to beat me.”

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Meanwhile, the father of the children set ablaze by their stepfather, Mr Liadi Akinfolarin, has demanded justice for the dastardly act.

Akinfolarin, who decried the deed of his ex-wife’s husband, stated that he separated from his former wife after she packed out of their matrimonial home and left the children for him to cater for, after which she married the suspect.

He said, “I work on the farm as a tractor driver. The children used to stay with me whenever I did not go to the farm. At times, I would stay on the farm for three to four days before coming home. And during that period, the children stayed with their mother till I come back from work.

“Most times when I was back from the farm on Fridays, I would call their mother to tell them I was back. And they would stay in my place till Monday, when they would go to school. After closing, they would go to their mother till when I would be around. That’s how we had been doing it on Fridays and Saturdays.

“On that fateful Friday, I returned home late from work. So, I couldn’t call them because I knew they would come to my place on Saturday. But around 4 pm, I received a call from an unknown person, who told me that the house of my former wife’s husband was on fire. But I did not answer the person because the woman is no longer my wife.

“My phone rang again around 6pm, and the person said my children wanted to speak with me. I heard my first daughter’s voice that their stepfather had set them ablaze with petrol and they had been taken to the general hospital in Ondo.

“Immediately, I left for the hospital. On getting there, I saw my children writhing in pains. Some were burnt beyond recognition. Their corpses have been deposited at the morgue.

“The remaining children are at the FMC Owo with the support of oxygen. I had promised them that after this trip to the farm, I would stop going and look for something else to do so that I can take care of them properly. They only stayed with their mother in her husband’s house whenever I was not at home. All I want now is justice.”

Metro

Police Impound Vehicle With 387 Blocks Of Cannabis In Bauchi

Published

4 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

The Bauchi state Police Command says it has impounded a vehicle with nothing less than 387 blocks of suspected cannabis sativa after involving in an auto crash in the state.

Sani Omolori-Aliyu, the Commissioner of Police in the state, disclosed this on Friday while handing over the exhibits to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Bauchi state Command.

According to him, the car and one other had a head-on collision in Wom village of Toro Local Government Area of the state on October 4, 2025 at about 11:30am.

“Initial reports from eyewitnesses and preliminary investigations indicate that the first vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla with registration number ABC-459LF, was operated by one Ali Muhammad, a 45-year-old resident of Nabardo Village.

“He was transporting the District Head of Nabardo, Suleiman Suleiman, aged 65, along with his family members as they travelled from Bauchi Metropolis to Nabardo Village.

“The second vehicle, another white Toyota Corolla with registration number GWA-155GW, was driven by an individual yet to be identified, who was travelling from Jos, Plateau State, towards Bauchi.

“It was reported that this driver attempted to overtake other vehicles without exercising adequate caution, resulting in a head-on collision with the first vehicle,” he said.

The Commissioner further explained that the occupants of both vehicles sustained varying degrees of injuries and were transported to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) for medical care.

He said that the District Head suffered a fracture in his left leg and is currently receiving treatment with other victims while some have been discharged.

Omolori-Aliyu also revealed that in the aftermath of the incident, during the search at the scene, the detectives recovered several items in the damaged vehicle which included the 387 blocks of suspected cannabis.

The Commissioner, who explained that the command was in pursuit of the unidentified driver to ensure accountability and prompt legal action, encouraged anyone with information regarding the driver’s identity to come forward and assist in the investigation.

“The police are committed to diligently pursuing leads to identify the principal suspect.

“The Bauchi State Police Command is dedicated to maintaining peace and order in our community and urges the public to remain calm and cooperative throughout this process.

“We invite anyone with information that could aid in this investigation to contact us and we assure citizens that we are resolutely focused on ensuring justice is achieved,” he said.

While receiving the exhibits, Hussaini Umar, Deputy Commandant, NDLEA, appreciated the police for the cooperation and synergy and promised to work hand in hand to ensure that the driver and the owner were found.

Metro

Fake Revenue Agents Apprehended In Aba While Defrauding Residents

Published

8 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

Abia State Harmonized Taskforce has apprehended four individuals impersonating as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for acts of extortion, intimidation, and illegal enforcement along the Port Harcourt Road axis of Aba and its environs.

They were nabbed on Thursday at Flyover junction around Ugwunagbo area through an operation authorized by the Aba Area Coordinator of ASHTF, Mr. Uche Wogu.

A statement issued by Miracle Chukwunenye, spokesperson of the Harmonized Task Force said that the agency received multiple complaints from market women, tricycle (Keke) operators, and traders about the unlawful activities of a group led by one Mr. Ahuama.

‎”Upon arrival, the Taskforce, in joint effort with the police, arrested Mr. Ahuama and three accomplices who were caught extorting money from unsuspecting traders and tricycle operators under the false pretense of being NURTW officials.

“Investigations revealed that the suspects had already impounded about twenty (20) tricycles earlier that morning and collected money from the owners before being intercepted,” Chukwunenye said.

‎He added that during the operation, the suspects resisted arrest and attacked Taskforce operatives and police officers, but they were eventually subdued and are now in custody.

Chukwunenye sensitized traders and transporters that Abia State operates a strict No-Cash-at-Hand revenue system, and as such, no government-authorized personnel is permitted to collect cash from citizens.