Metro
Mother, two children killed as arsonists set family ablaze in Lagos
A 22-year-old fashion designer, Eniola Oduse and her two children, four-year-old Eri and two-year-old Onoara, have been burnt to death after suspected arsonists set their home ablaze at the Ita Marun community in the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State.
The deceased’s husband, Kehinde, 25, who was also caught up in the fire, is currently battling for his life in an undisclosed hospital.
PUNCH Metro learnt on Sunday that the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, November 26.
It was gathered that the family of four was asleep in their room on Monday night when some yet-to-be-identified individuals entered their premises at about 2 a.m.
The individuals were said to have sprinkled petrol around their apartment and specifically poured it into their room before setting it on fire.
The victim’s twin sister, Taiwo, who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday, said while her brother ran out of the room to seek help, his wife and two children didn’t make it alive.
She said, “The incident happened around 2 am. My brother and his family were already asleep when the people came and poured petrol on the building. Meanwhile, my brother had opened his window to allow ventilation. When they saw the window open, they sprinkled petrol in their room. The smell of the petrol woke the wife, who quickly called her husband’s attention to the smell.
“By the time they attempted to find out what was going on, they saw someone light a fire and throw it into their room. Kehinde, with fire on his body, quickly ran out of the house to call his relative living close to the house. Although the relative did not respond to his call, it was another neighbour who heard his voice and ran out to help.”
According to Taiwo, Kehinde’s wife and the two kids were already caught up in the fire when they returned to the apartment.
She said, “When they got back to the house, they saw the wife lying on the entrance of the house with the legs of her two kids in her arms. She actually tried to drag them out but the fire was too much and the kids were already dead at the time.”
Another member of the family of the victim, who identified himself as Razaq, said the couple were rushed to various hospitals at midnight but were rejected due to the degree of the burns.
He said they were moved around for medical attention for about seven hours before they were later referred to a hospital where they were later admitted.
“They were eventually taken into a hospital somewhere in Lagos where they were attended to. But at the time they got medical attention, they were both weak. Doctors tried to save the wife but she later died in the early hours of Thursday. We really can’t ascertain the situation of Kehinde at the moment.”
Our correspondent gathered that the victim’s deceased wife and children had been buried.
In a video sighted by our correspondent, the apartment was razed with the charred remains of the two children lying inside.
Speaking further, Razaq alleged that the cause of the incident was not unconnected to issues relating to land in the community.
He said, “The family has been under pressure and a series of attacks due to attempts to seize their land running into hectares from them. This was a part of what led to the death of their father about four months ago. His brother had also fled the community due to this, but Kehinde chose to stay behind because of his family. He was not at home for about some days. He only came back that Monday to spend the night with his family when this incident happened.”
The spokesperson for the state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, could not be reached as calls made to his phone were not responded to. A text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.
Five soldiers and six terrorists died in a firefight between troops of the Nigerian Army and members of the Lakurawa terrorists in the Gudu LGA of Sokoto state.
Abubakar Abdullahi, the coordinator of the joint media coordination centre for operation Fansan Yamma, in a statement issued on Thursday, said the operation was carried out by the troops of the defence headquarters special operations brigade.
“On Jan 11, the troops of defence headquarters special operations brigade conducted a coordinated offensive operation against Lakurawa terrorists and made contact in Gudu local government area of Sokoto state,” the statement reads.
“Despite this success, the operation came at a heavy cost, as five gallant soldiers tragically lost their lives in the line of duty.”
Abdullahi added that the troops recovered four AK-47 rifles, 160 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and a box of 12.7mm ammunition during the operation.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and observant in their communities while advising them to report any suspicious activity to security agencies.
“Public cooperation is crucial for protecting lives and maintaining peace in our communities,” he added.
One year after the devastating explosion in the Bodija area of Ibadan, affected residents are still awaiting the compensation they were promised. During an interdenominational service held to mark the anniversary of the tragedy, Pastor Muyiwa Bamgbose, President of the Bodija Estate Residents’ Association (BERA), expressed the community’s ongoing struggles, with many families still displaced and properties left in ruins.
Pastor Bamgbose highlighted that several homes remain uninhabitable, overgrown with weeds and abandoned. The service, which took place at the Bodija Estate Baptist Church, was organized by BERA in partnership with the Dejo Oyelese Vigilante Group (DOVG) to honor the five residents who lost their lives in the explosion.
The deceased were identified as Mr. Fimihan Fagbemi, Mr. Toluwalase Kehinde, Mr. Ladipo Azeez Oyebamiji, Mrs. Agnus Bolanle Badmus, and Mr. Bolu Adebiyi. The explosion also left over 70 people injured and caused severe damage to more than 200 houses, leaving a permanent scar on the community.
Pastor Bamgbose called for justice for the victims and more support from authorities. He urged residents to use the tragedy as a catalyst to foster unity and resilience within the community.
Gunmen have shot dead a final-year student of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osura, in the early hours of Wednesday in the Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.
The victim, identified as Prince, a Computer Science student awaiting mobilisation for the compulsory National Youth Service Corps, was killed in front of his girlfriend in his room along Abuja Street, Ikot Osurua community.
A source within the polytechnic community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the gunmen gained entry into the compound around 1 am and moved directly to the victim’s room, where they shot him in the stomach.
The source said the victim’s girlfriend immediately raised the alarm, drawing the attention of neighbours who rushed to the scene.
The victim was swiftly taken to a hospital but was confirmed dead on arrival.
“The gunmen didn’t steal anything or rob anyone in the compound. They just shot him and escaped,” the source revealed.
The source further recalled seeing the victim just hours before the attack.
He added, “I met him yesterday around 4 pm with his girlfriend. They were both wearing facemasks, and we joked about their appearance. He was a popular figure in the neighbourhood and an active member of his church’s choral group. We are all in shock over his death.”
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Timfon John, confirmed the incident but stated that the attack might be linked to both robbery and cult activities in the area.
“Information we have indicates that there was a robbery and cult-related operation in the vicinity. The assailants invaded the area and shot the student during the robbery. An investigation is ongoing,” John said.
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