Monday 1 July 2013
Tragic: How drunk policeman killed my son – Bereaved father cries for justice
Olayinka (Photo: Punch)
The family of a student at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State who was murdered in June is asking the policeman believed to be responsible for his death to own up.
20-year-old, Olayinka Kolawole reportedly died June 15 on his way back from a friend’s birthday party.
Although the family believes a policeman attached to Ejigbo Division killed their son, the DPO told the family that around 2am on the said date, they received a distress call that cult members were fighting. On getting to the scene, the cult members fled but policemen discovered the young man’s corpse.
Narrating what happened on the fateful day, the father of the deceased, Prophet Omisande Kolawole said: “My son went out to attend his friend’s birthday party not too far from our home. He said he would not stay long and we told him not to stay out too long. The following day, which was a Sunday, we did not see or hear from him and we began to panic.
“Later we heard that police embarked on a raid the previous night. We even thought he had been arrested. His mother, Grace Kolawole, and her nephew, Segun Adio, went to the Ejigbo Police Division but they were told that there were no suspects in their cell.
“However, residents told us that they had seen my son’s corpse being conveyed by policemen. After about three hours later, the policemen opened up and told us that my son had been killed. My wife immediately fainted.”
The Punch reports:
Omisande said even after his wife had been revived, the police refused to take her statement as well as the statement of Adio, her nephew.
He said Adio and other residents set out to investigate what actually happened and it was discovered that his son was killed by a stray bullet which emanated from the gun of a policeman popularly known as Oba.
He said, “We were told that around 8pm on the fateful day, Titan Hotel, located at Asaolu Close, was holding an event tagged Ladies’ night. At the hotel, one policeman popularly known as Oba was having a drink and dancing with a lady.
“We learnt that Oba left the hotel premises to receive a telephone call but on returning to the hotel, Oba got into a fight with a youth over the lady he was dancing with. The altercation degenerated into fisticuffs and Oba ran out of the premises and called his colleagues for back-up.
“When his colleagues arrived at the scene, a shoot-out ensued. During the shooting, my son, who was on his way home from another party was hit in the head by a stray bullet and died instantly.”
Omisande said since his son’s killing, life had not been the same. He said his wife was hospitalised and was only recently discharged.
The deceased’s mother, Grace, who spoke to PUNCH Metro while fighting back tears, said everything was still like a dream.
“Olayinka was the first of my three children. My other children are still young and it feels as if all my labour has been in vain. I want justice for his death,” she said.
Omisande described his son as a responsible boy and wondered why the police would attempt to cover up his murder.
“The policemen at Ejigbo prevented us from seeing the Divisional Police Officer. We are being treated with comtempt because we are not rich. All we want is justice for our son’s murder.”
When contacted on the telephone, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed Olayinka’s murder.
She said the matter would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, for further investigation.
“The father of the deceased told the DPO that one policeman identified as Oba was responsible for his son’s death. However, we have not been able to get the actual identity of the policeman. We are transferring the case to the SCID for further investigation.
“We are however calling on eyewitnesses to come forward and we promise that their identities will be protected.”
Marriage Is The Last Thing For Me- Actress Funke Adesiyan
Are you not thinking of marriage at your age?
Like I have always said and believed, marriage is not a must for me. Everybody wants to get married but everybody is not meant to be married. There are people who are not meant to be married but they force themselves into marriage, because someone else is married. You discover that you opt out in a few months and divorce.
Are you searching for the right person?
I am not searching for the right person, I am in a relationship with a great man. It does not mean that we will be married tomorrow or we cannot get married today. That is not what matters to me. Marriage is the last thing, what matters is being happy together. He’s happy with me and I am happy with him, so, that’s fantastic and fine.
For how long would you want to have the cards open?
Forever! I think one should live a life of being open. I think life is too short to say I am going to love you forever when you don’t know what happens tomorrow. Why don’t you leave it opened?
Commotion As Two Condemned Robbers Escape From Courtroom
There was com-motion at an Asaba High Court, yesterday, as two robbery suspects took everybody unawares and escaped from the court room immediately the judge sentenced them to death by hanging, having found them guilty on two-count charges of armed robbery.
The two suspects who were in the dock without handcuffs jumped out, and became violent, used a wooden barricade used to block traffic leading to the court to hit prison officials chasing them.
The convicts were one Elvis Agbofodo and Frank Okedema both from Ekpan community, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
Prosecution had told the court that they robbed the residence of one Mrs. Mercy Omatseye of valuables and cash on July 8, 2010.
Both of them were, however, re-arrested with the assistance of the residents of the area. One of the them was shot by armed prisons official who pursued him to a nearby church premises, about 100 metres from the court.
As a result of the incident which took place at about 11.30 am, further proceedings in the court were disrupted as the judge, court officials and lawyers scampered for safety as gun shots rented the air.
New Controller of Prisons in the state, Mr. Joseph Olanrele, had during a recent courtesy visit to the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Charles Ajuyah (SAN) expressed worry over the large number of condemned criminals in various prison formations across the state, noting that it was worrisome as they (condemned criminals) constantly create problems for prison officials looking after them while awaiting the hangman.
Ajuyah, on his part condemned the use of phones by some inmates even while in the court, saying such act is capable of undermining security of officials and inmates.
Full List Of Winners At The 2013 BET Awards
The following is a complete list of winners for the 2013 BET Awards.
Female R&B/Pop Artist
Beyoncé
Tamar Braxton
Alicia Keys
Rihanna | WINNER
Elle Varner
Male R&B/Pop Artist
Chris Brown
Bruno Mars
Miguel | WINNER
Justin Timberlake
Usher
Group
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis | WINNER
Mary Mary
Mindless Behavior
Slaughterhouse
The Throne (Kanye West & Jay-Z)
Collaboration
2 Chainz f/ Drake — No LieA$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar — Problems | WINNER
French Montana f/ Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne — Pop That
Kendrick Lamar f/ Drake — Poetic Justice
Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z — Suit & Tie
Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz — Mercy
Male Hip Hop Artist
2 Chainz
A$AP Rocky
Drake
Future
Kendrick Lamar | WINNER
Female Hip Hop Artist
Azealia Banks
Eve
Nicki Minaj | WINNER
Rasheeda
Rye Rye
Video of the Year
2 Chainz f/ Drake — No Lie
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar — Problems
Drake — Started From The Bottom | WINNER
Drake f/ Lil Wayne — HYFR
Kendrick Lamar f/ Drake — Poetic Justice
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/ Wanz — Thrift Shop
Miguel — Adorn
Rihanna — Diamonds
Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z — Suit & Tie
Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz — Mercy
Video Director of the Year
A$AP Rocky & Sam Lecca
Benny Boom | WINNER
Director X
Dre Films
Hype Williams
New Artist
Azealia Banks
Joey Bada$$
Kendrick Lamar | WINNER
Trinidad Jame$
The Weeknd
Gospel Artist
Deitrick Haddon
Lecrae
Tamela Mann
Mary Mary | WINNER
Marvin Sapp
Actress
Angela Bassett
Halle Berry
Taraji P. Henson
Gabrielle Union
Kerry Washington | WINNER
Actor
Don Cheadle
Common
Jamie Foxx | WINNER
Samuel L. Jackson
Denzel Washington
YoungStars Award
Gabrielle Douglas | WINNER
Jacob Latimore
Keke Palmer
Jaden Smith
Quvenzhané Wallis
Movie
“Beasts of the Southern Wild”
“Django Unchained”
“Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap”
“Sparkle”
“Think Like A Man” | WINNER
Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Gabrielle Douglas | WINNER
Brittney Griner
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Subway Sportsman of the Year
Victor Cruz
Kevin Durant
Robert Griffin III
LeBron James | WINNER
Ray Lewis
Coca-Cola Viewers Choice Award
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar — Problems
Drake — Started From The Bottom | WINNER
Kendrick Lamar — Swimming Pools (Drank)
Miguel — Adorn
Rihanna — Diamonds
Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z — Suit & Tie
Centric Award
Tamar Braxton — Love and War | WINNER
Fantasia — Lose To Win
Miguel — Adorn
Nas — Daughters
Charlie Wilson — My Love Is All I Have
FANdemonium Award
Rihanna
Chris Brown | WINNER
Beyonce
Nicki Minaj
International Act: Africa
2Face Idibia (Nigeria)
Toya Delazy (South Africa)
Donald (South Africa)
Ice Prince (Nigeria) | WINNER
R2Bees (Ghana)
Radio and Weasel (Uganda)
International Act: UK
Marsha Ambrosius
Estelle
Labrinth
Rita Ora
Emeli Sandé | WINNER
Wiley
Humanitarian Award
Dwayne Wade
Lifetime Achievement Award
Charlie Wilson
ASUU Commences Nationwide Strike
Two months into a nationwide strike by polytechnic lecturers, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Monday, began a nationwide strike over alleged Federal Government’s refusal to implement the agreement between it and the union over unpaid entitlements, its National President, Dr. Nasir Fagge, has said.
Polytechnics lecturers are also on strike due to alleged non-implementation of agreements and lack of infrastructure in their institutions.
Fagge spoke in an interview with newsmen, yesterday, at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, after the union’s National Executive Council, NEC, meeting at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
He said: “We are embarking on an indefinite strike nationwide because Federal Government reneged on the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed with ASUU in 2009 to pay lecturers their EARN allowances.”
According to Fagge, Federal Government, in 2009 signed an agreement to pay each lecturer N12,500 per month as EARN allowance, which it has not done since then.
He said: “The allowances include excess work load, high carriage of student per lecturer, responsibility allowance, ranging from administrative responsibility borne by lectures for example, as Head of Department, Deans of Faculties, Examination Officers, Course Advisers and Supervision of thesis.
“The highest any lecture gets from this allowance is N12,500 per month. The truth is that since 2009 no lecturer has been paid any allowance apart from his salary.”
Fagge explained that when the non-payment of allowance was brought to the notice of Federal Government, it said that it forgot to include it in the budget and promised to make amends in subsequent but never did.
Before the commencement of strike, Fagge noted that the union held several meetings with officials of the Federal Government on the issue but regretted that government did not take the union seriously.
He said: “We went ahead to go on a warning strike and they never did anything to avert the industrial action.
“We had series of interaction with the Federal Government at the national level, but to the dismay of ASUU, the government recently came with a new position that they can not pay more than 50 percent of the agreed amount
“It had earlier been reduced to 80 percent by the union.
“Between December and January 2011, the union suspended its industrial action over ASUU/FG agreements. Within the period, the union had series of meetings with Federal Government.
“When the strike was suspended two and half years ago, there was an MoU signed with the Federal Government.
“In the MoU, the Federal Government agreed to inject funds to uplift the infrastructure in the universities which it never did.”
Arsenal Sign Yaya Sanogo From Auxerre
Arsenal have completed the signing of Yaya Sanogo from Auxerre.
The France youth international arrives on a free transfer at the end of his contract with the Ligue 1 side, becoming the Gunners’ first recruit of the summer on a “long-term” deal.
“Sanogo is a good young signing for us,” manager Arsene Wenger told the club’s official website.”He has shown that he has potential with his recent performances for Auxerre and also for the France Under-20s side. We are looking forward to Yaya joining us and continuing his promising development.
“The youngster will link up with the Arsenal squad for training at the end of his involvement in the Under-20s World Cup in Turkey, having scored two goals as France progressed from the group stage.
Sanogo scored 11 goals in 24 games for Auxerre after coming up through the academy ranks. [Goal]
No Need For Governor Amaechi To Leave –PDP
Peoples Democratic Party leadership has asked Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State not to leave the party.
It noted that with the ongoing reconciliation in the party, there was no need for any of its aggrieved members to defect to another party.
The party’s acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tony Okeke, stated this in Abuja on Monday.
Okeke was responding to a threat by Amaechi that he could defect to another party if the PDP no longer wanted to accommodate him.
But Okeke, who spoke to one of our correspondents on Monday, said, “There is no need for him (Amaechi) or anyone to leave the party. The reconciliation efforts going on in the party now are all encompassing and we are very positive and hopeful and because of this, there is no need for anyone to leave the party, not even now or in the future.”
The PDP, which suspended Amaechi from the party on May 27, set up a committee to investigate the anti-party activities accusations levelled against him.
Meanwhile, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Austin Opara, has dismissed Amaechi’s claim that he made him (Opara) a principal officer of the House of Representatives.
Opara, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, also said it was wrong for the governor to tag him a betrayer.
He wondered how Amaechi, as the then Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, could have influenced his emergence as a principal officer of the House of Representatives, when he was not even a member of the National Assembly.
He said, “The process of electing the presiding officers of the House of Representatives is well known. It is through election on the floor of the House.
“Since the office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives was zoned to the South-South, I spoke to all the governors from the zone and my state governor. How did Amaechi make me the Deputy Speaker?”
Also, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, has warned that the PDP will lose the 2015 election if it fails to reconcile its aggrieved members and resolve the crisis rocking it.
Peterside, who represents Opobo/Nkoro/Andoni Federal Constituency, stated that without reconciling members of the party, it would be difficult for it to win the next general elections in the country.
The lawmaker said the PDP was currently in disarray, adding that any political party in such a situation would not win any election.
Peterside, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Downstream, said though Amaechi was still in the PDP, he would not hesitate to leave the party if the governor decides to defect to another party.
The lawmaker said, “If you say the PDP in Rivers State is in disarray, are you not sure the party (PDP) in Nigeria is in disarray?” [Punch]
Why I Prefer Stealing From Churches – 32yr Old Robbery Suspect
Anti-robbery policemen attached to Oko-Oba division have arrested a 32-year-old man who allegedly specialised in bugling churches around Oko-Oba area of Lagos.
The suspect identified as Sannu Umaru was reportedly caught in the act inside one of the Pentecostal churches in Oko-Oba, weekend.
Umaru who claimed to be son of a retired army personnel, told policemen during interrogation that he preferred stealing from churches because of the security lapses.
Preliminary investigation, according to police sources, revealed that Umaru was allegedly involved in some robbery incidents in churches around the area. Before his arrest, he allegedly bugled a church where he made away with some musical instruments.
According to Police sources, “on that fateful night, he scaled the fence of the church and went to where the musical instruments were. As he was about carrying the piano valued close to half a million naira, one of the instruments fell down and attracted the night guards who went for him.
“He jumped through the fence with one of the instruments he stole. But he was apprehended by residents of the area who were alerted by the the guards and was brought to the station. He was found to have also burgled another church within the week.”
In his confessional statement, Umaru blamed his indulgence on frustration, saying: “I was tempted to steal because of the death of my father. After his death, I went into scavenging but did not succeed. I chose to bugle churches because it is easier than any other place.
“Aside this, I do not need to be armed. I was scared of carrying arms and did not want to spill blood. That is why I considered stealing in churches as a gentleman’s way.
“What I do is, anytime I go there, I would search the offering boxes. At times I would find money inside, while at other times I would not.
“At Saint Barnabas Church, I did not find any money inside the offering box. So, I decided to steal their music instrument.”
Police sources said Umaru had been charged to court.
18 Soldiers On Trial For Assisting Boko Haram
Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim
Eighteen soldiers, including a lieutenant, on Monday appeared before a General Court Martial in Jos, Plateau State for aiding members of the fundamentalist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, and other insurgent groups in their activities.
The soldiers are members of the Joint Task Force code named Operation Restore Order in Borno State and the Special Task Force also known as Operation Safe Heaven in Plateau State.
The JTF and STF were deployed in the two states following the menace of insurgent groups in the country. While the JTF is also battling with Boko Haram members in Adamawa, and Yobe states, the STF has been grasping with Fulani herdsmen who, in the past 10 years had taken Plateau State by the jugular.
The soldiers are being tried under charges termed, “communication with the enemies, cowardly behaviour, murder and manslaughter.”
The General Officer Commanding the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Ebisowei Awala, said before the inauguration of the five-member panel that the soldiers were duly investigated by the military police.
Awala described the court martial as one of the instruments conferred on him by the Armed Forces Act chapter A 20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria to address problems in the army.
He explained that any officer who wanted to succeed in the military should be disciplined and loyal, adding that these were two “essential requirements” an officer should not lack.
The GOC said, “Discipline is the foundation on which the military career rests; as a matter of fact, discipline and loyalty are two essential requirements no officer or soldier, who wants to succeed in professional soldiering, can afford to lack.
“It is the duty of superiors to observe, correct and instantly deal with negligence or any misconduct on the part of subordinates.
“When there is any breach, it is expected that appropriate disciplinary measures must be taken by commanders to forestall future occurrences.
“This way, the Nigerian Army can continue to play its constitutional role and sustain its accolade as the pride of the Nigerian nation.”
Awala said that the court martial was necessary so as to ensure that the high level of professionalism required to confront the lingering security challenges in the country, especially in the North-East was sustained.
He enjoined the parties in the court martial to discharge their duties expeditiously and with a high degree of commitment, to enable the accused persons to get justice.
According to him, justice is a three-way traffic that involves the accused, the army and the state; hence the need for fairness and equity.
“I want to implore this general court martial to ensure that no effort is spared to achieve this three-way traffic of the justice system; in this case, of the accused, the Nigerian Army and the state.
“Where a person is convicted of an offence, sentence ought to be passed. Such sentences must be humanely meted out.
“Punishment is among the means available for the maintenance of discipline in the Nigerian Army; as such the kind and amount of punishment should be adequate enough to achieve its purpose and serve as a deterrent to others.’’
He stressed that the GCM was convened to sustain a high level of professionalism required to confront the mounting security challenges in the Division’s area of responsibility.
Judge Advocate, Col. Dorothy Wilson-Ekwo, told newsmen after the convening of the GCM that the suspects would be given a fair hearing.
When the charges were read to the soldiers, they pleaded not guilty. No lawyer appeared for them.
Thereafter the court rose without announcing any adjourning date.
However one of the lawyers present, Mr. A. B. James, told journalists that he was only there as an observer.
Another court martial is also trying 14 officers and men under the 3 Armoured Division for various acts of misdemeanour.
A former Commander of the 33 Artillery Brigade in Bauchi, Brig.-Gen. Muraina Raji, was tried by a Special Court Martial at the 3 Armoured Division, Jos for his alleged role in the escape of two high-profile Boko Haram suspects.
Though he was discharged and acquitted of all the three charges, he was convicted on “special findings” by the court and sentenced to a three-month loss of seniority in his rank.
Ice Prince wins ‘Best African Act’ award at BET AWARDS 2013
of the BET Awards.
The Chocolate City rapper was awarded the coveted prize this evening
at the BET Broadcast Centre a few hours before the awards proper kicks
off at the Nokia Theatre L.A. live in Los Angeles, California.
Congrats to the Oleku crooner
Nigerian Actor Arrested For Attempting To Kidnap Monarch's Wife
arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for an alleged abduction.
Dauda, a fledgling actor, based in Ondo, was accused of attempting to
abduct the wife of the traditional ruler of Ilisan Remo in March 2013,
with the help of three others- Segun, Nurudeen and an unidentified
man.
However, Dauda said he was not aware that he was part of a gang of
kidnappers until too late.
He said, "At the time, I was not aware that it was a planned
abduction. Segun is a close friend and had borrowed my car. Because
the car was without a spare tyre and not in good condition, I offered
to drive him wherever he wanted.
"I was under the impression that Segun was in search of a suitable
school for his teaching practice as he is a student of a College of
Education," Dauda said.
Dauda, Segun and Nurudeen allegedly left Ondo, while a fourth
unidentified man was picked up at Ore. Under Segun's direction, Dauda
allegedly drove to a secondary school close to the palace of the Oba
of Ilisan in Ogun State.
At about 1pm, an elderly lady was said to have driven out of the
school compound and headed in the direction of the king's palace.
Dada said, "At the time, I was unaware that she was the king's wife.
By the time she came to where we were parked, she stopped because my
car was blocking her path. To my shock, Segun and Nurudeen rushed to
her vehicle, brandishing guns and pulled her out. Till that moment, I
had had no idea that they had guns in their possession."
Their victim was bundled into Dauda's waiting car and driven away.
Some residents, however, raised the alarm and alerted the police after
witnessing the abduction.
"It seemed Segun had stationed some spies around because while I was
driving, he received a call that the police had already begun to give
a chase behind us and that the neighbourhod vigilantes had mobilised
ahead of us to block our escape.
"Immediately, I heard that, I could no longer drive. I was so scared,
I had to drive off the road into the bush and we abandoned my car
there with the king's wife in it," Dauda recalled.
Dauda and his friends, allegedly hid in the bush till 7pm until
Segun's spies showed up and took them all to an uncompleted building
at the Ijebu-Ode end of Sagamu-Benin Expressway. The suspects were
said to have hidden there till 6.30am the following day, when a
vehicle arrived to convey them back to Ondo state.
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi,
confirming the incident said, "The victim was rescued from the car
unhurt although some pepper had been sprayed into her eyes to prevent
her from identifying where she was to be held captive.
"All the suspects escaped from the scene. In their haste, a sim card
belonging to Dauda was left in the car.
"Dauda was tracked to his home in Ondo State but he had gone into
hiding in his hometown, Iwo. It wasn't until May 19 that Dauda
returned home and he was promptly arrested by the Fagun Police
Division and later transferred to the State Criminal Investigative
Department, Abeokuta. Investigation is on to apprehend the other
fleeing suspects."
Source: Punch
Gunmen free 175 prisoners in Akure jailbreak
There was pandemonium in the early hours of Sunday when gunmen, numbering about 30, invaded the Olokuta Medium Security Prisons in Akure, Ondo State capital, and set about 175 inmates free.
The bandits, according to eyewitnesses, arrived at the prison premise, which is less than one kilometre away from the headquarters of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, also known as Owena Barracks, around 12. 05am, shooting indiscriminately.
The armed men were said to have gained entry into the prison by using dynamite to blow off a section of the walls, after a futile attempt to enter through the main entrance.
A source said one of the warders was hit by the attackers’ bullets, was ordered to release the keys to the cells, and was also forced to set the inmates free.
The state Comptroller of Prisons, Mr. Tunde Olayiwola, who lamented the development, described the attack as unusual.
Olayiwola said, “The incident happened around 12.05am. The rumour that the attack was masterminded by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, is not true.
“We cannot specifically identify those behind the attack, but the attack is unusual. One of our officers was injured during the attack and he is in the hospital right now receiving treatment. However, I am assuring you that those behind the attack will be brought to book.”
Burna Boy Fails To Perform @MTN's 'Ghana Meets Naija' Concert Due To His Glo Deal
Our very own dear BurnaBoy was at the much anticipated Ghana Meets Naija concert which held last night in Ghana but couldn’t perform on the MTN stage because he is a Glo Ambassador.
According to reports, Burna Boy failed to perform at the ongoing Ghana meets Naija concert because his deal as a Glo ambassador doesn’t allow him perform on a competitive platform.
He however spoke off stage to the audience and apologised for his inability to perform.
Meanwhile, it seems this will be the first event we aint seeing Jim and Nadia coupled up. Haven't seen pictures of them together at the event just yet.
11 Burnt To Death In Ibadan Auto Crash
No fewer than 11 people were yesterday burnt to death in an auto crash which occurred at the Macmillan area, few metres before Soka bus stop on Ibadan/Lagos Expressway.
It was learnt that the commercial bus was coming from Ogido in Ogun State and heading to Beere in Ibadan to attend a Wolimat programme of a family member with most of the victims dressed in a uniform made of Ankara for the occasion.
According to an eyewitness, the propeller of the bus pulled out and hit the fuel tank, igniting a fire in the process.
The driver of the bus in an attempt to save situation veered off the road and hit a heap of sand by the side of the road which immediately halted the bus , but while the driver of the bus and the two passengers in the front escaped, others were not so lucky as the side door of the bus was locked. The occupants were reported to have impeded one another in their panic to get out and this caused the high casualty figure.
Of the 11 that died, three were children, while 13 others who sustained various degrees of burns, including the driver, were taken to the Adeoyo Hospital and UCH, Ibadan.
The Assistant Corps Commander and Unit Commander Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oluyole Ibadan/Lagos toll gate, Mr Adeoye Sanya, confirmed the incident, saying that “the FRSC was informed of the accident around 1pm that an Ibadan-bound bus from Lagos was involved in an accident.
“However, I can confirm to you that the bus was badly loaded and from the report of the victims -both survivals and the dead- 13 were injured and 11 were burnt to death; the claim can be established. The driver is among the four male victims taken to the Adeoyo Hospital while nine others – seven adults and two children – were taken to the University College Hospital (UCH).”
Sanya said after being informed of the development, the FRSC quickly deployed its officials to evacuate some of the victims to the hospitals.
The remains of the 11 victims were taken away in sacks by the men of the FRSC in two vans with registration number FRSC 522 RS and FRSC 525 RS.
Meanwhile, a middle-aged man who was among onlookers at the scene collapsed when men of the FRSC were pulling out the scarred bodies from the bus. It took the intervention of some of his colleagues who poured water on his face to revive him.
Confederations Cup Final: Brazil 3 – 0 Spain
Two goals from Fred and a stunning Neymar finish saw Brazil claim their third straight Confederations Cup title in emphatic fashion, as they brushed Spain aside 3-0 in the final on Sunday.
The tournament hosts were in supreme form inside a raucous Maracana, ripping the reigning world and European champions to shreds to end their 29-match unbeaten run, and claim the trophy for the fourth time, alongside their triumphs of 2009, 2005 and 1997.
Fred needed only 90 seconds to open the scoring, before a thumping second from Neymar moments before the break rounded off an excellent first half for Brazil.
The onslaught continued two minutes after the restart when Fred put another past a shell-shocked Spain, who showed their ineptitude at both ends when Sergio Ramos lashed a penalty wide.
Gerard Pique’s 68th minute red card ended any fleeting hopes of a comeback from la Roja, as Brazil’s win sparked wild celebrations in the stands and saw Spain lose by three goals in a competitive game for the first time since 1985.
The fans had the Maracana rocking long before kick-off, and barely two minutes in, the home side nearly blew the roof off the famous stadium when they took the lead.
Oscar delivered a ball into the box which Fred, Iker Casillas, Alvaro Arbeloa and Pique all challenged. A goalmouth scramble ensued and, despite laying on the turf, the Fluminense man reacted quickest to poke home.
Fred very nearly set Oscar up for the second within minutes when he flicked across the box from Neymar’s cross, but Chelsea’s young playmaker drilled agonisingly wide.
Paulinho then made Casillas work hard to keep the deficit at one with a cheeky lob after robbing Andres Iniesta, with the Spain keeper backpedalling to get a hand to the attempt.
Vicente Del Bosque’s side were simply struggling to cope with the tenacity and energy in Brazil’s play, which was matched every step of the way by the fervour raining down from the stands.
And Arbeloa nearly committed a fatal mistake when he flattened Neymar on the halfway line, but with the fans baying for blood, only a yellow card was issued to the defender.
Spain finally showed signs of life when Iniesta’s rasping drive forced Julio Cesar to push around the post, but it was an aberration amid Brazil’s dominance, and Casillas had to stand tall again to stop Fred from point blank range.
However, it was then the hosts’ turn to live on the edge when an outrageous goal-line clearance from David Luiz denied Pedro a sure-fire goal after Mata’s pass put him one-on-one with Cesar.
But with half-time approaching, Brazil would get their deserved second. Oscar drew the attention of the defence on the edge of the box and deftly slipped in Neymar, who unleashed an unstoppable shot into the back of the net.
And two minutes after the interval, the hosts struck again. Hulk’s fantastic diagonal ball was cleverly dummied by Neymar, leaving Fred to finish coolly into the bottom corner.
Spain were handed a glimmer of hope with a penalty after Marcelo clumsily challenged substitute Jesus Navas, but Ramos extinguished that optimism almost instantly with a wild spot-kick that flew wide.
And they were finished for good when Pique stuck out a leg in vain to bring down the onrushing Neymar, earning the Barcelona defender a straight red card as the last man.
It was party time inside the Maracana, with the irrepressible Neymar driving past defenders with ease, and substitute Jo coming close to a fourth with a powerful strike that was saved by Casillas.
Spain had a few chances to restore a little pride, but Pedro was denied excellently from close range by Cesar, who did equally well to push away a curling Villa effort with only minutes remaining.
But it just was not la Roja’s night, with the final whistle signalling what had been an inevitability for some time as the Brazil celebrations kicked off in earnest.
The question now is whether the Selecao can ride this wave of momentum all the way onto the biggest stage of them all at World Cup 2014. [Goal]
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