Boko Haram kills 48, burns churches near Chibok

INSURGENTS on Sunday launched attacks on three villages near Chibok in Borno State, setting ablaze five churches and killing no fewer than 48.

In the offensive, which was said to have lasted for about four hours, the terrorists attacked churches during Sunday worship, shot at worshippers and set the church buildings ablaze.
A resident said, ‘‘Boko Haram stormed Kautikari, Kwada and Karagau villages early in the morning at about 8.45am.

“The attackers locked worshippers inside the church and rained bullets on them.”
The source said 30 persons were shot dead in Kwada while about nine were killed in Karagau.
According to the source, no fear than nine worshippers were killed inside the Kautikari EYN church.
A youth leader in the area, Mr. Moses Zakwa, who spoke to one of our correspondents, said, “The communities that were attacked are Kwada, Kautikari and Karagau, all in the Chibok Local Government Area. As of now, over 20 persons have been confirmed dead, 10 of which I know personally.

“My cousin and one of my uncles were among those killed. He had three wives and over 20 children and he was killed in cold blood. The attack started around 8.00am and it lasted for over four hours
“The gunmen also opened fire on worshippers in a church service. People have not been sleeping at home. Some have run into the nearby bush to hide because their lives are at risk.”
Zakwa is the president of the Kibaku Youth Association.
Another Chibok indigene, Manasseh Allen, also confirmed the attack in a telephone chat with our correspondent.
“We need divine help,” he said, adding that Kautikari is the second largest town in Chibok council area.

A member of the Borno State House of Assembly, representing Chibok constituency, Mr. Aimu Foni, also told The PUNCH, “It’s obvious this was a Boko Haram attack because three days ago, they threatened to attack.”
The attack on Kwada, Karagau and Kautikari villages came exactly 74 days after members of the terrorist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, abducted well over 200 pupils of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, on April 14.
The insurgents had two weeks ago written to the council area that they would attack it again.
Indigenes on Sunday listed the churches burnt down in the attacked communities to include a branch of the Deeper Life Christian Ministry, COCIN and EYN.

“They (the insurgents) killed and burnt down houses after they had attacked worshippers in five churches in Kwada, and advanced to Kautikari less than eight kilometres to Chibok town, killing and burning down people’s houses and properties,” another indigene, Malam Yahi, told one of our correspondents on the phone from Chibok.
“As of now we do not know about the efforts of the security agents, whether they are on ground or not but all our people, those who can flee have run into the bush and are being pursued by the murderers,” Yahi added.

A top local government official in Chibok town, who did not want his name published, told journalists on Sunday afternoon that “our people have fled into the bushes and we can only appeal that security men are immediately drafted to the town and environs.”
He complained that on receipt of the threat letter two weeks back, they had gone to the police to seek maximum protection but that the police authorities had told them then that they had logistic problem.
The attacks on the area caused apprehension even in the state capital, Maiduguri, as some of the indigenes of Chibok in the town were said to be making panic phone calls to their relations back home.

Most of the churches in Maiduguri were also said to have embarked on prayer sessions, asking for God’s intervention after receiving the news of ongoing attacks on their home community.
There was no word from security agents on the fresh attack on Chibok as of the time of this report.
In a related development, Sunday worship in Abuja churches were said to have been filled with testimonies by survivors of last Wednesday’s bombing of the EMAB Plaza in Wuse II area of the Federal Capital City.

Twenty one persons were killed in the blast that rocked the shopping mall. One of the dead victims of the blast is the Managing Editor (North) of the New Telegraph, Malam Suleiman Bissala.
One of our correspondents reported instances of long queues of testifiers in many Pentecostal churches in the city, with many of them narrating how they were divinely saved from death.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army on Sunday beefed up security on Abuja major highways to forestall another blast in the nation capital.

Our correspondent observed that soldiers had set up checkpoints on the airport road and in the central area of the city, checking contents in the boots of vehicles.

The development slowed down traffic in the areas but motorists expressed satisfaction with the stop – and – search arrangement, which they claimed would further curb the activities of the insurgents.
A cab driver, Mr. Ibrahim Bello, noted that apart from the fact that the presence of the soldiers on the road would scare bombers, the action would also minimise speeding, which he said remained the major cause of accidents on the highways.

Source: Punch

WOMAN WHO STOLE CO-TENANT’S CHILD IS A ‘PRAYER WARRIOR’ –NEIGHBOURS OF KIDNAP SUSPECT

Rosemary Chukwu had become a sort of nuisance to her neighbours. Many times, they had complained about her praying habit.

“She would shout and scream and make noise while praying. She makes everybody uncomfortable. That is what everybody knows about her here. This is why we are still in shock about what she did,” said one of her neighbours at 33, Omo Ologede area in Majidun, Lagos.

But what Chukwu is currently embroiled in is simply shocking for the neighbours.
The woman allegedly stole the seven-year-old child of her neighbour, Mrs. Gloria Emeka. In fact, our correspondent learnt from neighbours who caught her in the act that the timely intervention of security agents saved her from being lynched.

When our correspondent visited Omo Ologede on Wednesday, it was noticed that Chukwu and parents of the kidnapped child were co-tenants.
Another neighbour in the same compound, Biola Odunsin, narrated how he, in conjunction with other neighbours, caught Chukwu.
He said, “It was around 6.30am today (Wednesday), when the mother of the child raised the alarm that she could not find her son, Emmanuel.

“We all rallied around her to find out what happened. She informed us that she had sent him to fetch water from the well in the compound. She raised the alarm because her son took too long and when she went to the well, she only saw the empty bucket the boy took there.

“While we were looking for the child, Rosemary (Chukwu) even came out to join in searching for the child as well. She was pitying her mother, showing concern and asking us to check some other parts of the compound.”

One of the neighbours who also took part in the search for the child, told Saturday PUNCH that Chukwu even asked him to see whether the child was in another compound not far from the house.
Two other neighbours named Yakubu and Vincent told our correspondent that they entered the well where the child was sent to fetch water.

“We entered the well to see if the boy fell inside but we found nothing,” they said.
But while the search for the child was going on, Chukwu was said to have gone inside her apartment and came out with a large luggage.

“She carried the luggage on her head and passed by us as we searched for the child. She said she needed to drop the bag somewhere and that she would come to join the search later,” Odunsin said.
But a suspicious woman, the wife of the landlord of the house, alerted the search party, telling them to search the bag Chukwu had on her head before she was allowed to leave.

When the residents called after her to tell her to bring the bag for a check, she reportedly began to run. But a moment later, she was caught.
“We immediately opened the bag and inside was Emmanuel with a cloth used to gag him. The child would have died because he could not speak again. We tried hard before we could resuscitate him,” Odunsi explained.

However, the infuriated neighbours descended on Chukwu and while they were beating her, she screamed out that they should spare her because she was only a messenger.
“Pastor Ernest sent me! Please don’t kill me, Pastor Ernest sent me o!” she was reported to have told the party of residents.
Then Chukwu took the party to the church of the pastor who she claimed sent her, which turned out to be Pastor Ernest Nwankwo of the Holy Family Happy Family Ministry (House of Mercy), Majidun.

One of the residents who took Chukwu to the church said by the time they got there, the pastor was nowhere to be found. She was later handed over to the police who took her away.
A photograph of Chukwu obtained by our correspondent showed a plump, fair complexioned woman with a motherly face. She is said to have four children – two boys and two girls.
Neighbours said they had not seen her husband, as he was usually away from home even though they are still together.

When our correspondent visited the church on Wednesday, a crowd of residents had besieged the place, barely kept at bay by some sternly looking policemen who were said to have prevented the church from being burnt down earlier by angry residents.

Despite this, some youths had succeeded in entering the church before the police came and seized hundreds of audio CDs of an album recorded by the pastor.
The youths publicly and excitedly sold the CDs on the Ikorodu Road to motorists and passers-by for N50 each.

The policemen rebuffed every attempt to gain access to the empty church, while residents of houses nearby could not provide any information about the whereabouts of the pastor.
Some residents who pleaded anonymity informed Saturday PUNCH that the church was not a conventional one.

“They don’t hold service on Sundays, only on Tuesday and Thursday. The pastor claims to treat mad men,” one of them told our correspondent.
An eyewitness, who entered the church before police intervention, said when they stormed the church earlier, they met a man with his hands and legs shackled in chains.

“I am not a mad man. Please help me! I was taken from around Redeemed Church Camp on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Pastor Ernest kept me here. There were many of us but they usually come to take away,” the man, who gave his name as Onuora Okeke, was reported to have said. The man also revealed to the people that he was from Anambra State and had been locked up in the church since 2012. Our correspondent learnt the man was taken away by the police.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said the Chukwu would soon be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba for investigation.

She also confirmed that the pastor of the church has not been found.
Our correspondent attempted to contact the Nwankwo through two phone numbers found on his church’s website but none of them were available as of press time.
Source: Punch

I Was Strangled, Tied Up ─ Kidnapped Six-year-old Boy

A six-year-old boy, Emmanuel Emeka, who was rescued from a suspected kidnapper on Wednesday in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, has recounted how he was lured, seized and tied up by his abductor.

Emmanuel said the suspect, identified as Mama Ifunaya, who was a neighbour, lured him into her room, strangled him, covered his mouth with clothes before tying him up with rope to prevent him from screaming.

He said, “I wanted to draw water and take my bath before going to school when she told me to come. I went because I know her; she is Mama Ifunnaya. But when I got to her side, she threw me inside her room… she closed her net. She then tied me and put me inside a box.

“I wanted to shout, but I could not shout properly. I heard my mummy’s voice when she was looking for me, but I could not shout. She (pointing to the suspect) is a wicked person.”

Our correspondent observed that Emmanuel’s neck had marks, while his eyes were bloodshot.

PUNCH Metro had reported on Thursday that the victim was kidnapped at the Ologede, Majidun, Ikorodu area.

He was said to have been rescued by a mob, which equally beat up the suspect to a pulp.

The mother of four was said to have led the mob to a church, saying a prophet sent her to bring the boy.

Our correspondent reported that the mob forced their way into a house near the church, but discovered that the prophet had fled.

They were said to have found in the house photographs of previously missing people, mats and calabashes containing unknown substances, including a mentally-challenged man.

PUNCH Metro on Thursday spoke with the victim’s mother, Mrs. Gloria Emeka, who explained that she never suspected her neighbour because while she was searching for her child, the suspect was in her room with her children praying and shouting “holy ghost fire.”

She said she later discovered it was a ploy to prevent her from hearing Emmanuel’s screams.

She said, “On Tuesday morning, I was preparing Emmanuel to go to school. He told me he wanted to fetch the water from the well.

“I left him and went inside the kitchen where I was cooking. But what I heard next was the muffled voice of my child and I ran out.

“I began shouting his name, but I didn’t see him. I, however, observed that my neighbour’s door was slightly opened and I entered. I met her children and asked them if they saw Emmanuel, but they said no.

“I looked everywhere without a trace of my son. People joined me and we searched the surroundings, but we couldn’t find him.

“My landlady’s son entered the well to see if he fell into the well, but he came out and said he couldn’t find anything.”

While this was on, Mama Ifunaya was said to have sent her four kids out of the house.

PUNCH Metro gathered that more people joined the search party, while Mama Ifunaya stayed in her mini-flat apartment.

“Later, we saw her leaving the house with a box on her head. She said she was travelling. It was my landlady that challenged her why she could go out when everybody was busy searching for Emmanuel.

“The landlady asked her to stop, but she suddenly increased her pace and started running. That was how the landlady shouted, ‘kidnapper, kidnapper’, and people ran after her.”

The box was said to have fallen, and when it was opened, the missing boy was found in it.

Our correspondent learnt that a mob would have lynched her but for the intervention of policemen from the Ipakodo Police Division, Ikorodu.

She reportedly confessed that a prophet sent her to bring the child.

A police source told our correspondent some witnesses said more than 15 receipts were recovered from the victim. The receipts were said to have shown payment for some past unidentified jobs.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, had told our correspondent that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

-Punch

Ritualists’ den uncovered, 8 kidnapped victims rescued in Lagos

LAGOS— A ritualists’ den was, uncovered at Ogolonto area of Ikorodu Lagos, with at least eight victims, said to have been kidnapped from different parts of the country, rescued.
One of the victims, a 52-year‑old man, who identified himself simply as Onwurah, alleged that his wife had a hand in his kidnap, saying he had spent two years in the enclave.
The den was uncovered following a foiled attempt by a mother of four to take one of her victims, a seven year‑old boy, to the den.

Vanguard gathered that the woman identified as Mrs Rosemary Chukwu, who resides at 33, Omologede Street, behind C&S Primary School, allegedly abducted the seven-year‑old primary school pupil, Emmanuel Emeka, on his way to fetch water from a public well at about 6.30 a.m.
Chukwu was alleged to have kept the boy inside her toilet and engaged her four children in a prayer session, apparently to prevent her co‑tenants from hearing the abducted boy’s cry for help.

How Emeka was rescued
Meanwhile, back in the abducted boy’s home, located four buildings from his captors, his mother became apprehensive over his unusual delay. She was said to have raised alarm which caused residents to conduct a search round the neighborhood for Emeka.

Eye witnesses told Vanguard that Chukwu even went out and suggested areas where the search party could search for the missing boy. She was said to have been sighted with a suitcase on her head, accompanied by her children.
An eye witness, who gave his name as Oyetoye Gbemi, said: “She told us she was travelling to the village. But one of the area boys who was among the search party, ordered his colleagues to search the box.

“Immediately she heard that, she flung the box away and took to her heels. We all suspected something was amiss. When the box was opened, Emmanuel was found inside, half dead.
“The area boys descended on her and stripped her naked. On interrogation, she said her pastor, the General Overseer of Holy Family Ministry a.k.a House of Mercy, asked her to bring the boy.

“The area boys followed her to 319, Lagos Road, Ikorodu, where the church is situated, where they saw her pastor waiting for her. But on sighting the crowd, he took to his heels.
“But for the arrival of Policemen from Owutu division, the woman would have been lynched. The angry mob also attempted to set the church ablaze but were also prevented by the policemen. They, however, succeeded in torching some parts of the property.”

Ritualists’ den
uncovered
When Vanguard arrived the scene, a crowd had gathered, giving varying accounts of what happened.
But to the astonishment of all, another building alleged to be used for ritual purposes by Pastor Ernest Nwankwo was discovered.

The building located at 7, Oshodi Street, was behind the church. It was gathered that some miscreants uncovered the building while they were chasing the fleeing pastor.
The mob was said to have forced some apartments in the building open, where they found an undisclosed number of persons in chains.
The victims were said to have recounted how they were kidnapped from Anambra, Bayelsa, Ogun and Oyo states at different times. One of them, according to eye witnesses, who pleaded anonymity, said she was kidnapped 11 years ago.

According to an eyewitness, “the woman said she is about 50 years old and that she was kidnapped along the Lagos/Ibadan expressway while returning from a vigil.
“The rest were males and were wearing briefs. They looked haggard and tired. The area boys set them free when they opened the apartments. I believe some of them should be with the police.
“There were also ‘Ghana must go’ bags of currencies . The area boys looted some of the things they met before the arrival of the Police.”

I was abducted from Anambra 2 yrs ago
—Victim
When Vanguard visited the den, there were bloodstains around the building and a particular apartment where those alleged to be in chains were kept, was opened up. The apartment was dark and was littered with dirty cutlery suspected to have been used to feed the victims. There was also a bowl which contained suspected human blood.

A 52 year‑old man seen in chains told Vanguard that he was kidnapped two years ago from Anambra State. He said he used to be a commercial bus driver before he was abducted and brought to Lagos.
“The man said he could not join others to escape because the key to his chain could not be found. When he was asked if Pastor Ernest was responsible for his abduction, he charged at him, saying: “Do not call him a pastor. He is not. He is a killer and a ritualist.”

A community leader in the area who identified himself as Alfa Olajide Odeji, told Vanguard that the building on Oshodi Street was always under lock and key. He said there were unusual movements there at night. His claim was collaborated by another community leader who gave his name as Elder Sikiru Odebowale.

Efforts to reach the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide failed. However, Police sources confirmed that the female suspect was in Police custody and that the seven-year‑old boy had been taken to a hospital. His condition could, however, not be ascertained. Also, Pastor Ernest Nwankwo was said to be on the run.
 Source: Vanguard

Abuja blast kills 21

Suspected members of the Islamist militant sect, Boko Haram, on Wednesday detonated another bomb at the   EMAB Plaza,   one of the busiest shopping complexes, in Abuja.
The explosion is the third in the Federal Capital Territory in the last two months. On April 14, 2014, a bomb blast at Nyanya, Abuja, killed 71 people and injured 124.
Another blast in Nyanya , a satellite settlement near Abuja, on May 1, 2014, killed 19 people and injured 60.

The   Wednesday   bomb went off   around 4.10pm   in front of the mall   adjacent to a very busy mosque where many Muslims had gone to observe   the Asri (4pm prayer).
Although eyewitnesses put the casualty figure at 30, the Force Public Relations Officer,  Frank Mbah, told journalists at the scene that 21 people   died and 17 were injured.
Mba’s figures were however contradicted by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Bala Mohammed, who said that 12 people were killed while 35 were injured.

Mba had also said that the explosion destroyed 17 vehicles outside and within the complex.
The   Managing Editor, Northern Operations of the New Telegraph, Suleiman
Bisalla,   is one of the dead victims.
Eight others believed to be drivers were burnt in their vehicles.
Mbah said,   “We just want to confirm the fact that there was a blast at the Emab Plaza, Wuse , Abuja, this afternoon.   As soon as the incident occurred, security agents moved into the scene, we cordoned it off and initiated actions targeted at saving lives.

“The casualty figure for now is 21 dead, 17 injured and 17 vehicles burnt. If there are any changes later on we will inform you.
“It is also heart-warming to note that an arrest has been made and security agencies would follow up on that arrest .
“The building is still an active crime scene and it has been cordoned off. Investigation has commenced.
“The police bomb disposal squad working in conjunction with other security agencies has already commenced investigation.

“We have equally taken measures to secure the critical infrastructure and all the goods here, and we are assuring the traders and members of the public that we will put adequate security in place to ensure that there is no pilfering.
“We will intensify surveillance and monitoring of plazas, shopping malls and all the open markets. We had previously commenced this action, and we are not doing that because this explosion has taken place today.

“We have already begun to fortify all the soft targets within the FCT, and we will continue to do everything humanly possible to secure all our businesses and facilities within the FCT.’’
An eyewitness, who had blood stain on his blue shirt, told one of our correspondents that the intensity of the blast was such that many of those killed had their bodies completely dismembered.
Our correspondents also saw some body parts opposite the plaza , including the private parts of a man whose body was among those moved to the mortuary.

Two suspects killed, one arrested However,   soldiers killed one of the suspects and arrested another   when they were escaping from the scene on a power bike.
Another suspect, who was gathering human parts at the scene , was also killed.
The soldiers, who were led by the Commander, Guards Brigade, Brigadier Anothony Omozoje, were said to have fired   at the   bike     when the suspects who were fleeing, refused to obey their order   to stop.

It was gathered that the arrested suspect   was taken to the Guards Brigade Hospital at Asokoro, Abuja, for   treatment.
Investigation further revealed that   an unexploded bomb in the custody of the suspected bombers was defused by the soldiers.

The   blast, according to the witnesses, was so strong that it destroyed   some structures and the windows of others   directly opposite the mall.
The explosive also dug a big crater in front of the complex which also serves as the car park for visitors to the popular shopping complex.

An eyewitness, Gimbya Jafaru, said, “I heard a loud blast, it shattered the windows of the shop. We ran out. A lot of people ran too, some with blood stains.’’
“We heard a really loud noise and the building shook, and people started screaming and running out. We saw the smoke and people covered in blood. It was just chaos,” Chiamaka Oham, who was also near the site of the blast, told the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Another witness   said that his driver was killed in the blast.

“I was in the complex when I saw that the ground was shaking. I saw my driver dead and a lot of casualties,” he added.
The Coordinator of the National Information Centre,   Mike Omeri, confirmed that one of the suspects   was arrested.
Omeri, in a statement,   advised residents of the FCT to remain calm, avoid the location of the explosion and go about their normal business.
He expressed the sympathy of the Federal Government to the families of those that lost their lives   and wished the injured speedy recovery.

The spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, Manzo Ezekiel, said, “You can see smoke billowing. It’s a very crowded place.”
FCT minister condemns attack as savagery
The FCT minister told journalists at the Maitama General Hospital that 35 survivors and 12 dead bodies were brought to the Emergency Department of the hospital.
Mohammed, who described the attack as ‘‘savagery,’’ said, “The number of casualty is not what the police said.

Rather than 21 that they told us, what we have is only 12.
Happily, it is not up to that number but 35 are on emergency.
“So you can see that there is a simultaneous increase in the number of those injured as distinct from what we were told by the security agencies.
“Definitely the number of those confirmed dead by the hospital authorities in Abuja is only 12 and 35 under emergency service .”

The minister also reassured Nigerians that government had put in place security measures in all public places in Abuja.
He said, “We have come up with the minimum security requirements for all public areas, service providers and markets.
“I am sure that it has started working because the detonation was done on the road corridor.
“And unfortunately, some of the subject’s targets were affected. They are also those we are trying to say they should not hawk along the road maybe because of social circumstances they were caught in the way and they died.

“We are beefing up and developing our security protocol and we insist and enforce that you must have a clinic, you must have a shopping mall, you must have a hospital, anywhere that the public will go, you must have this minimum security and gadgets that we put in place.
“We once again regret and commiserate with the families of those affected and with all Nigerians and we condemn it in its entirety.”

The minister had visited the blast scene with the FCT Minister of State, Olajumoke Akinjide.
He told journalists   that the FCT Administration would give the necessary support to security agencies in the task of securing and protecting soft targets from attacks.

Mohammed also   commiserated “with the families and indeed all Nigerians who are affected by this gruesome incident. Security agencies had been working to protect soft targets before this incident.”
He added, “The bombers might have successfully attacked open markets but for the efforts of security agencies. I will now visit the hospitals to see the victims. Minimal security infrastructure are being deployed in public places. We condemn this act of savagery. We will continue to support security services.

“We are going to ensure we develop the capacity to make sure we really do what we should do.”
Relatives of victims besiege Maitama, national hospitals
Security operatives had a Herculean task controlling the   crowd at the Maitama General Hospital where some injured victims, including two pregnant women,   were taken to.
At the National Hospital   where seven dead bodies were taken to, one of our correspondents also saw seven people who were severely burnt being attended to by nurses and doctors at the emergency ward.

Relatives of the victims besieged the hospital in a bid to identify the deceased and those hospitalised.
A few persons, who confirmed some dead victims as their relatives, cried uncontrollably while sympathisers struggled to calm them.

The hospital’s spokesperson, Dr. Tayo Haastrup,   said, “Seven dead bodies were brought here. Seven injured persons were also brought here and two of them are in very critical conditions.”
A detachment of about 10 armed police officers were sent to the National Hospital to control the crowd and restore calm.

Officials of the Department of State Services commenced the identification of persons who thronged the hospital and walked out those who could not provide valid explanation on   why they were in the hospital.

Editor’s body seen at Maitama Hospital mortuary
The body of the Managing Editor, Northern Operations   of the New Telegraph was found at the Maitama Hospital mortuary.

His elder brother, Mohammed Bisalla, told one of our correspondents that the remains of the journalist would be buried in Abuja on Thursday(today).
He said. “We have lost Bisalla. He died in the bomb blast. We found his corpse inside the Maitama hospital mortuary.

‘‘It is bad. I’m his elder brother. We would bury him in Abuja on Thursday.”
I want my three sisters alive
– Survivor
Also at the   Maitama hospital, a survivor, simply identified herself as Martha, said she had yet to see her three sisters.
“I went to collect oranges and as I did   and waited for a taxi,   I heard the explosion. It was that same place that my three sisters were sitting. I want my three sisters alive”, she lamented.
Martha, who was wailing profusely ,said all efforts to reach them on their telephone lines had been unsuccessful.

Another eyewitness, Abdulrahman Ibrahim, said he was in the Uthman Ibn Affan Mosque opposite Emab Plaza, when he heard the explosion.
He said, “I quickly ran out of the mosque and saw some people on fire running up and down. There were pieces of human parts all over the mosque premises and the glass windows of the mosque and vehicles were shattered. I saw about 10 dead bodies on the ground.

“One man in a car was injured and there was so much blood in his car. I was the one that took him to the hospital. I saw one girl whose mother was killed in the explosion.”
Ibrahim added that the mosque, which was inaugurated last Sunday, was damaged.
Explosion also in Adamawa market

In Mubi, Adamawa State, there was pandemonium   following an explosion in the busy Lumo Kuturu Market along the Ahmadu Bello Way, also on Wednesday.
While the state Police Commissioner, John Abakasanga, on Wednesday, said that the blast occurred when an Improvised Explosive Device was thrown at a police patrol team, one of our correspondents gathered that it was a gas cylinder explosion.
Abakasanga said that no casualty was recorded but The PUNCH learnt that a man lost his life to the incident.

The police boss,who told the News Agency of Nigeria that no arrest had been made, added   the area had been cordoned off for proper investigation.
The commissioner said apart from the affected area there was calm in other parts of the town with people going about their normal activities.

But a resident who declined to give his name said people scampered for safety thinking that the explosion which “occurred when a gas cylinder fell off   a moving vehicle belonging to a new generation bank” was the handiwork of the Islamist militant sect, Boko Haram.
A sources at   the General Hospital, Mubi, said the lone victim died of cardiac arrest.
About three weeks ago, a bomb blast near a football field in the town killed about 20 people.
Source : Punch

I BURIED EX-CUSTOMS OFFICER, DAUGHTER ALIVE — HERBALIST

LAGOS— Emotions ran high, at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, following the startling confession of a 64-year old herbalist, on how he buried a 68-year old retired Customs officer and her 10-year old adopted daughter alive in a shallow grave behind his shrine in Ajuwon, Ogun State.

The suspect identified as Alhaji Olatunji Azeez, who was paraded by the command’s boss, Umar Manko, showed no sign of remorse as he said he committed the act in order to prevent the victim from demanding N9 million he used to prepare concoction for her.
Trouble started for the retired Customs officer, one Mrs Angela Kerry, who resided at New Oko Oba area of Lagos, following her inability to give birth.

In her search for possible solution, she was reportedly introduced to the suspect who confessed to have carried out series of rituals and also prepared concoctions for her to no avail.
Apparently disappointed, Kerry was said to have demanded the refund of N9 million earlier collected from her by the herbalist last month, consequent upon which he invited her to his shrine at 9, Wadoye Street, Ajuwon to collect the money.
Unknown to Kerry, who went in company of her adopted daughter, the herbalist had a sinister motive up his sleeves.

How mother, child were buried alive
Narrating how he buried both mother and child alive, the suspect who claimed to have three wives and five children said: “She provoked me to anger. I did what I did because I considered her an enemy who was out to kill me if I did not act fast.
“It all started five years ago when she was introduced to me by her friend, one Lizzy. She was attacked spiritually and I helped her out. She came again over a similar attack and I also prepared some concoction which saved her. She told me that her family members were after her and I said she needed to fortify herself.

“Three years ago, she revealed that she has not been able to give birth and had not been pregnant for one day. I told her it would be impossible since she had reached menopause but she objected, saying many prophets had told her God could do it.
“Along the line, she said she wanted to sell her property at Omole, that she wanted to travel abroad to be away from her family. After selling the property, I discovered so many pastors started coming around here to get a share from the money realised. In fact she told me that she had paid N15 million to some pastors already.

“Then I told myself that if I did not act fast, these people will collect everything from her. I had to tell her to bring N9 million to prepare some concoction for her pregnancy, even though I knew it was impossible for her to get pregnant.
“She gave me N9 million. But after nine months, she came back saying nothing happened and demanded a refund. That was where trouble started. I managed to pay her N 3.5 million and begged her to be patient for the balance.

“Then she charged into my temple one Friday demanding that she should be paid that day. I told her I won’t pay her and that if she had gone to the hospital and the treatment failed could she have demanded a refund. She threatened to deal with me if I did not pay her, saying she would show me she was in the force.

“I told myself that this is war because I remembered she once showed me a gun at her apartment. I knew it was not a mere threat because she said she would kill me and nothing would happen. That threat provoked me. I knew that when two people are fighting, the first to attack will emerge winner.

The plot

“So, I decided to act fast before she tarnished my image. I pacified her to come back next day for the money. When leaving, I told her not to come with the daughter.
“After she left, I told myself I needed to act fast. I went to a building at the back of my shrine where I dug a hole. I spread a mat on the hole and laid a white cloth on it, exactly the way it looks in my shrine.

“When she came next day, I told her to go inside the building that we needed to pray before we talk about the money. She asked if the prayer was for the pregnancy and I told her it was for fortification.
“I warned her not to take her daughter along but she refused. I did not argue any further because I did not want my plan to fail.

“On getting inside the building, I asked her to stand on the white cloth and immediately she did, she fell inside the hole and landed on her buttocks. All I heard when she fell was yeh! When she fell, I said I have seen the end of my enemy and I have gained victory.
“The daughter did not say a word. She just stood watching. I had to cover the hole with over 40 buckets of sand.

“After covering the hole, I asked myself what to do with the little girl. I left the room, locked it from outside. When I came back at about 6.30pm, I met her on the sand. I quickly removed my jacket and poured about 30 bucket of sand to cover her. Next day, I went to get two bricklayers to cement the place.”

The arrest

Describing the act as callous, the command boss explained that after committing the crime, the suspect took her Toyota Camry vehicle to a dealer’s workshop to sell.
But the bubble burst when the victim’s relatives reported at New Oko Oba Police Station that Mrs Kerry was missing.

The policemen, he said, traced the victim’s car to a dealer’s workshop where two persons were arrested, adding that their confessional statement led to the suspect’s arrest.
“We have been able to recover the decomposed bodies and the victim’s travelling bag containing her personal effects and that of her daughter from the shallow grave he buried them in,” Manko said.
Source: Vanguard