Category: Crime

Lady Burns Her Mother To Death As Pastor Said She’s Behind Her Predicament’

A 45-year-old housewife, identified as Abiodun, nicknamed Iya Sunday, has given the reason for setting her 86-year-old mother ablaze in Ondo town, Ondo State.

The suspect said her pastor told her that her mother was behind her predicament.

After the ugly incident, the victim reportedly sustained burns from head to toe and is currently on admission at an undisclosed hospital, in the town.

Police said the aged woman later died in the hospital.

An eyewitness account said that the suspect, who visited her mother on Friday, around 5 a.m., called her out, then doused in petrol and set her on fire.

According to the eyewitness, “What happened between them before the incident we don’t know.

“But the suspect has been arrested by police at the Enu-Owa division for further investigation.”

Speaking, the suspect, Abiodun, alleged that took the decision “because she was told that her mother was behind her predicament.

Abiodun confessed: “I went to my mother’s house around 4 a.m. and sat outside. When it was 5 a.m., I called out my mother from the house.

“Immediately she came out, not knowing what was happening, I poured petrol on her body and set her on fire.

“What started it is that I went to one pastor for prayer, and he told me that my mother was behind what was happening to me.

“I did not believe it at first. My mother also took me somewhere to see a woman. After my mother left, the woman also said the same thing.

“I burnt my mother because of what I heard from the pastor and the woman; that I can only be free from bondage when my mother is dead.”

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the state police command, Funmi Odunlami, said that the suspect had been arrested and that interrogation had commenced.

Odunlami said that the victim, later died in the hospital, a few days after she was admitted.

Bus Fell Into Ditch After Driver Tried To Avoid VIS Checkpoint

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), on Friday, rescued a commercial bus alongside the driver who recklessly swerved into a ditch to avoid the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) officials.

The agency’s permanent secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed this in a statement.

Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said a female sustained a minor injury during the accident at Obadore along LASU-Isheri road.

“Upon arrival at the incident scene at about 11.01hrs, it was observed that a commercial bus, with registration number FKJ 870 YG, was involved in a lone accident at the aforementioned location.

“Further investigations revealed that the accident occurred when the vehicle’s driver swerved recklessly in attempts to avoid a VIS checkpoint,” he said.

He added that the reckless driving caused the vehicle to lose control and fall into a ditch.

“No loss of lives was recorded during the incident. However, an adult female sustained minor injuries in the process.

“The bus was recovered with the help of the LASEMA response team, the Lagos State Fire Rescue and Service and the Nigeria Police Force, who were all in attendance,” he said.

More Trouble Suspended Permanent Secretary Of Foreign Affairs Ministry Over Alleged S3xual Harassment

At least three more women have testified against the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ibrahim Lamuwa on the same allegations of s3xual harassment levelled against him by one Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi who is said to be an aide to the minister.

Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi had earlier written a petition to the minister which forced the latter to equally write to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, to probe the allegation.

This made the Head of Service set up a panel to investigate the allegations after suspending the Permanent Secretary, pending the probe’s outcome.

However, findings by PRNigeria revealed that at least three more women had approached the probe panel to lodge similar allegations of sexual harassment against the Permanent Secretary.

Meanwhile, the Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, the labour union in the Ministry, had also accused the permanent Secretary of high-handedness, maladministration, favouritism and financial improprieties, which, according to them, had significantly affected the welfare and rights of the workers.

In a petition addressed to the Minister, Ambassador Tuggar and dated 11th of June, 2024, the staff union accused the Permanent Secretary of relegating all issues that had to do with staff welfare, allowances, emoluments, training etc to the background.

They specifically highlighted the denial of various benefits the workers were entitled to, which had been a source of their discontent for months.

In the petition obtained by PRNigeria, the union listed and explained in detail the series of benefits that the workers were entitled to that Ambassador Lamuwa had been denying them for months.

They accused him of unduly and illegally favouring a certain category of people and victimising those who did not dance to his tunes, in the area of posting, training and other benefits like Hajj seats.

Some of his alleged crimes against the labour union as listed in the petition include delay in payment of some benefits, delay in promotion and conversion of staff, lack of transparency in posting exercise, delay in paying of clothing allowance, discrimination in paying First 28 Days Allowance, lack of fairness in the distribution of the 2024 Hajj seats, inadequate posting of Batch B officers to foreign missions, poor sanitation and hygiene due to insufficient water supply, lack of work tools, dilapidated office buildings, refusal to pay the 25th regular course allowance for nine months among others.

In the petition signed by JNC Chairman, Comrade Ali Seidu, and Assistant General Secretary, Comrade Akpana S.E, the union urged the Minister to look into their grievances and address the series of injustice allegedly done by the Permanent Secretary to avoid a drastic action by the workers.

“Consequent upon the maladministration, dwindling level of productivity occasioned by the administrative leadership apathy in the ministry, the JNC has been engaging with the management thinking its solidarity with the authorities of the Ministry will yield positive results and prompt action on pending issues.

“Unfortunately, there was no corresponding improvement instead, the management has become worse, unreceptive and very harsh to everyone who dares to speak and ask questions. Victimisation, intimidation, and harassment has become a tool the management uses to shut critics while the staff of the Ministry continue to suffer.

“The staff of the Ministry are outraged by the egregious neglect, surreptitious administrative skullduggery, manipulations and commercialisation of the Ministry’s activities by the Permanent Secretary and his allies under the guise of rejuvenation. They have introduced harmful practices that threaten the very fabric of our Institution. We demand an immediate end to all their destructive policies and a return to the principles of fairness, equity and transparency. We call on the Honourable Minister to direct the authorities to investigate these grievances and take swift action.

“We the staff hereby give a 21-days ultimatum to the Management to immediately address the grievances outlined in our communiqué, failure to do so will be met with strong resistance,” the petition read in part.

WATCH: Tears As Nigerian Youths Render Family Homeless Over Allegations Of Witchcraft

Every June 12 will remain an indelible date in the minds of the family members of Mr John Ekpono of Agharoza, Iboko, in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Little did they know that this fateful day would bring a bleak future to the entire family.

It was a scene of tears and agony as their houses and farmlands were destroyed by some youths in the area following a revelation by a certain man of God that accused them of being evil.

It was gathered that trouble erupted when a cleric made a revelation that Mr John Ekpono and others were responsible for the backwardness and other calamities befalling the community.

Convinced by the revelation, some youths in the area went on a rampage, burning down Ekpono’s houses, farmlands, and other valuables, accusing him of being evil.

Speaking on Thursday, the victim’s son, Mr Chijioke Ekpono, who narrated their ordeal, stated that the masterminds have concluded plans to attack his family members.

He explained that the villagers organized a crusade in the village, and the Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area sent security operatives to disrupt the program because no official permission was taken from the local government by the organizers.

Continuing, Chijioke further disclosed that he challenged the organizers of the crusade because his father’s name was mentioned as one of those responsible for evil practices in the community, which led to the burning of their family properties.

“They have concluded that we were the ones who sent security agencies and accused us of being against the pastor’s coming to call out names of evildoers.

“Agharoza village members rallied, conspired, and destroyed everything that my father labored for in life. They burnt down our houses, destroyed our farmlands, and many other things too numerous to mention. May God come to our rescue,” he said.

Reacting through a telephone conversation on Friday, Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area, Barrister Stephen Emenike Nwakpu, confirmed the incident, describing it as uncalled for and barbaric.

Nwakpu stated that so far, no fewer than 30 persons behind the arson have been arrested, arraigned, and remanded in Abakaliki custodial center, while others are still at large.

Regarding the resettlement of the victims, the local government chairman said efforts are being made to ensure proper conditions for the victims.

When contacted on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Ebonyi State Command, DSP Joshua Ukandu

He stated that an investigation into the matter has begun to arrest those still at large.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Ebonyi State has waded into the gross human rights abuse.

Reacting to the development in an interview on Friday, the state coordinator of NHRC, Mr. Christopher Okorie, expressed concern that people could be so barbaric because of superstition.

Okorie frowned upon the practice of people relying on unfounded revelations and superstitions to witch-hunt innocent civilians in society.

He said that the commission was committed to ensuring that justice was done in the matter to serve as a deterrent to others.