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6 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020 Police arrest pastor for staging own kidnap in Kaduna By Ben Agande KADUNA— A pastor, who allegedly staged his own kidnap and demanded N5 million ransom from his family, has been arrested by operatives of Kaduna State Police Command. The State Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, said the pastor, James Clement, and his accomplice, George Otokpa, were arrested by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit. According to the PPRO, the fake kidnap was stagemanaged on January 27, 2020. The 39-year-old pastor, who lives in Nasarawa Tirkaniya area of Kaduna, allegedly conspired with Otokpa, who resides at 23, Aleri Water by Sarki Street, Kudandan, to commit the offence. It said Clement “demanded the payment of N5 million as ransom from his own family through text messages using the second suspect as the negotiator.” The arrest followed a report by one Miss Monica Sunday and Mr Ejimba Ichukwu, both family members of the fake kidnapped victim about the kidnap of their relation. “The suspect, Clement James, was tracked and arrested at his hide-out where he hid, falsely claimed being kidnapped and conspired with his friend, George Otokpa ‘m’ 22yrs (the 2nd suspect) to engage his family in negotiation for ransom. 7 die in Sokoto road crash SEVEN persons, including the Village Head of Tudun Doki in Gwadabawa LGA, Alhaji Hayatu Ardo, have died in a road crash, which occurred along Gwadabawa- Illela road in Sokoto State. Mr Garaba Kanya, the Public Relations Officer of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Sokoto Sector Command, disclosed, yesterday, that the accident occurred Monday night. Kanya said the crash involved a commercial Toyota Avensis car conveying 11 persons, which skidded off the road and hit some trees when the driver lost control. He said others who sustained injuries were hospitalised at Gwadabawa General Hospital. It was gathered that the Sole Administrator of Gwadabawa local government, Alhaji Aminu Aya, has commiserated with the families of the deceased and prayed Allah to give them the fortitude to bear the loss. Fire destroys 7 shopping plazas at Balogun market By Esther Onyegbula MANY traders at the popular Balogun Market on Lagos Island could not hold back tears, yesterday, as they watched their wares burning as fire razed seven shopping plazas. It was gathered that the fire started from Anambra Plaza, on Martins Street, beside Great Nigeria Insurance Company Limited, Leventis bus stop, as one of the traders tried refuelling his generator set that was running. When Vanguard got to the scene at about 2:30 pm the fire was still raging even as officials of the Lagos fire service battled to put out the fire. Some of the traders, whose shops were affected, just sat down helpless, while some lucky traders were seen salvaging their wares as the fire raged. Some who were able to recover their wares, were searching for where to keep them to avoid being looted by hoodlums. How it happened, by traders One of the traders, whose shop was burnt, Adaze Udo, said: “The fire started when one of the traders was refuelling his generator, which was on, at Anambra Plaza. While he was still pouring the fuel into the fuel tank, the generator went up in flames. “Unfortunately, he threw the remaining gallon of fuel which had already caught fire to Plaza 4. It was from there the fire spread to Plazas 2, 6, 8.” Another trader, who simply gave his name as Chucks, said: “I was inside my shop when I heard people shouting, I came out of my shop and took a look at the place, it was just small fire, so I went back inside. Before I knew what was happening the plaza opposite ours was in flames and the fire was spreading really fast. I was only able to get a bag of wares out of my shop. “I was almost burnt while trying to park my wares. At a point, I had to flee and abandon my wares. Within 10 seconds, it spread to other shops because of the PVC used as ceilings in the shops and the marquees used to display clothes." A nursing mother, whose shop was also affected, Amaka Ikenna, said: “I was still trying to display my wares when I heard fire, fire, immediately I ran out. Our plaza was the first to be affected, so I couldn’t pick a single item from my shop. I had to run for my life. “Sincerely, I am tired of all these troubles. The other time it was only one plaza that was affected, now over five plazas have been razed down.” Asked if he was able to take Some of the traders lamenting their losses at the scene of the fire outbreak. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. anything from his shop, one of the affected traders, who gave his name as Okey, simply said: "When there is life there is hope.” 6 buildings affected As at 6 pm yesterday, about six buildings used as shopping mall by traders at Balogun market have been razed by the inferno. Most of the traders looked gloomy as they helplessly watched while officials of the fire service battled to contain the fire from spreading to other buildings for hours. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Director-General, Oke- Osanyintolu, confirmed that explosion from a generator caused the fire outbreak. He said: “We were informed that some one was fuelling his generator, and suddenly, the generator exploded in flames and spread to other buildings.” 4 buildings collapse He said four of the buildings collapsed while the rescue operation was still on. Oke-Osanyintolu said LASEMA and the Lagos Fire Service officials were promptly mobilised to the scene to put off the raging fire. The director said two of the affected buildings collapsed to ground zero, adding that LASEMA had, however, curtailed the fire from spreading to other buildings. He said: “We are going to carry out integrity test on all the structures, and any building that fails the integrity test will be pulled down. “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is doing a lot to ensure the safety of lives and property. The attitude of our people is highly challenging and does not conform to the mission and vision of the governor. Change of attitudes “However, we are appealing to our people to change their attitudes through sensitisation and advocacy from time to time.” The LASEMA boss lauded the efforts of all key stakeholders, including Julius Berger, Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Fire and other agencies in managing emergencies as they occur in the state. Meanwhile, Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, LASSC, Mr Lanre Mojola, has expressed disappointment over another round of fire disaster in the market. Mojola said his men were at the market on January 19 to sensitise traders on safety and how to avoid fire outbreak that could lead to loss of lives and goods. He noted with concern that in spite of the awareness campaign, such a disaster could still occur in the market. Robbers kill NYSC member in Osun By Shina Abubakar OSOGBO— A serving member of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in Osun State, Adebayo Mukaila, was reportedly killed by a two-man armed robbery gang. It was gathered that the deceased owned a shop at Omo- West Street close to the NYSC secretariat in the state capital, where he sells recharge-cards, cable TV subscription and also engaged in money transfer. Sources disclosed that Mukaila, popularly called Alfa, was attacked after closing his shop around 11 pm on Tuesday by the hoodlums. The criminals, according to the sources, after disposing the deceased of his bag containing cash, POS machine, recharge cards and a bunch of keys, shot him on the head before dashing away on a motorcycle. An eye witness, Idowu Korede, who resides in the area, said the incident occurred late in the night and the sound of the gunshot was too audible but no one could come out of the house. He said the deceased daughter (name withheld) was with him when he was shot and was crying for help after the robbers left the scene. He said: “We all heard a loud bang and we decided to stay off believing some cultists have started their usual rivalry clash but a few minutes later a little girl was crying for help and residents rushed to the scene. Mukaila’s body was found on the ground with gunshot injury on his head and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Korede, who described the incident as unfortunate, said: “We observed the night prayer together at the mosque before he returned to the shop and whenever he stayed late, he sleeps over at his parents’ house located few metres from his shop.” Contacted, an official of the Public Relations Unit of the state NYSC confirmed the incident, adding that the deceased is a serving corps member in the state. She said the secretariat had contacted and condoled with the family, saying the matter had also been reported at the police station.
Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020 —7 Strange ailment claims 4 persons in Benue, others hospitalised By Peter Duru MAKURDI—FOUR persons have been confirmed dead following the outbreak of a strange ailment at a border settlement in Oye-Obi, Obi Local Government Area of Benue State. In a Save-Our-Soul, SOS, alert to the relevant health authorities, yesterday, in Makurdi, President, Igede National Youths Council, INYC, Andyson Egbodo, lamented that several persons in the community were already down with the ailment. Egbodo said: “The sickness has so far killed four persons in two weeks. The four victims, namely Happiness Ogbu, Onah Ogbedu, Andy Edu and Wisdom Agwo developed the same symptoms of headache, internal heat, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach ache, weakness of the body and swollen stomach before they died. “Our investigation revealed that the health authorities in Oju have been briefed. We are calling on the state and federal governments to, as a matter of urgency, do all within their powers to arrest the situation. “On our part, we are not resting in the area of mass mobilisation and awareness campaign on how to prevent its spread. Our investigation revealed that about six more persons as at today, Wednesday, are already down with the same symptoms and some have already been moved to General Hospital, Oju.” Confirming outbreak of the strange ailment, Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Sunday Ongbabo, said: “Yes, we are aware of the strange disease killing people in the area but we have sent our focal person there to investigate the situation and ascertain the nature of the epidemic. “We are also in touch with the National Centre for Disease Control in Abuja and the World Health Organisation, WHO, to come to our aid so that we can identify the disease to enable us protect others. “We are presently doing everything to contain it. So far, three persons have been confirmed dead,” he added. ... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) Go to 3rd mainland bridge area, we have enough water there NABBED: Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Cross River Command, Mr Danjuma Elisha (middle), parading suspects for allegedly operating illegal Computer Based Test, CBT, registration centres and extorting high fees from candidates, in Calabar, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 82-yr-old mother of Lagos business mogul abducted in Ondo By Dayo Johnson AKURE—MADAM Alice Fadeni, the 82-year-old mother of a Lagos business mogul, has been kidnapped by five gunmen in Ode Aye in Okitipupa council area of Ondo State. Madam Fadeni is the mother of a popular Lagos business mogul, Sehinde Fadeni It was gathered that the gunmen invaded her residence around 8 pm on Tuesday and dragged her into a waiting vehicle. An eyewitness said the gunmen collected the handset of their victim and zoomed off to an unknown destination. The eyewitness said: “I don’t know if they left with other valuables but l heard them asking for her handset before they zoomed off. “They zoomed off shooting sporadically into the air to avoid being stopped while residents of the town ran for safety for fear of being hit by a stray bullet.” At press time, the abductors were yet to open a line of communication with the son of the victim. Contacted, the state police image maker, Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident and said an investigation had commenced on the incident. Joseph said: “We are aware of the abduction of the old woman but we have started an investigation into it and we are already on the trail of the bandits.” Jealous housewife sets self ablaze in Kano By Bashir Bello KANO — A housewife, Rabi, allegedly set herself ablaze over jealousy and rivalry in Gayawa area, Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State. It was gathered that Rabi’s husband, Badamasi, married another wife sometimes back, which didn’t go down well with Rabi leading to setting herself ablaze. The action of Rabi has put her relatives in the state of mourning as they expressed unhappiness with the circumstances surrounding her death. When contacted, spokesperson of the police, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, told our reporter that he was trying to make an inquiry from the Divisional Police Officer, DPO of the area. However, at press time, DSP Haruna was yet to issue any official statement on the incident. Yes, wait till you reach menopause! That means you are in real trouble
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