Ogun chained girl saga: My wife insane, says runaway suspect’s husband

HUSBAND of Chiamaka Okafor, the woman alleged to have chained a 10-year-old girl, Promise Udeh, rescued by the Ogun State Police Command, has made an excuse for his wife’s actions, saying that she has partial insanity.
The rescue of Udeh at Alawaye community, Saraki in Adigbe area of Abeokuta came on the heels of the earlier rescue of a nine-year-old boy who was similarly chained by his father, a pastor of a white garment church in Ogun State

Sunday Sun reliably gathered that little Promise was chained by her aunt, identified as Chiamaka Okafor, 32, who accused her of stealing N4,000. Promise is a primary one pupil from Ebonyi State, where her parents also reside. Her aunt was said to have brought her to Ogun State four years ago.
It was learnt that Promise often stole from her guardians and had always been on the run, in a bid to escape punishment every time she allegedly com­mitted the theft.

Although the prime suspect, Chiamaka, a mother of four, is still at large, her husband, Sunday Okafor, was arrested about 6pm on Wednesday by the police and is being held in custody at Ibara Police Divi­sion, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
When Okafor spoke with Sunday Sun, he lamented his wife’s neurological condition which, he claimed was respon­sible for her recent dastardly act.

His words: “My wife has mental illness and I have been taking her to different church programmes to seek deliver­ance for her. I have been trying to hide this from people but the truth is that my wife has partial madness and, I have been taking her to different crusades since we got married in 2006. As for Promise, she keeps stealing from us.

Times without count, I have been to the police in Adigbe to report her to them but they keep advising me to manage the situation. I can tell you that she has run away from the house up to seven times. Even her teacher in school complains of same thing and punishes her for it. She attends Saint Benedict Primary School, here in Adigbe.”

Okafor, a businessman who sells men’s wear and hails from Ebonyi State, added: “To start with, I never knew she was chained. My wife did. All along, we have been calling on her people in the village to come and pick her, but they kept telling us to hold on till a later date. When I came in the first day and saw that she was chained, I set her loose, but did not know my wife was going to chain her again the next day.

I was surprised when I got to the police station and was shown the picture of how Promise was chained. I just want everybody to know that I didn’t chain Promise. It was my wife. I am not the type that intimi­dates children. My biological children and even siblings can testify to that. I think she did it based on the thought that the girl may run away again, although I was never in support of that.”

Neighbours speak
When Sunday Sun re­porter visited the home of the Okafor in Alawaye, an agrarian community on the outskirts of Abeokuta, it was learnt that worried neighbours alerted the police to the inhuman treatment of Promise.
Speaking on this, 24-year-old Omotoyosi Odu, a student of Tai Solarin University said: “My fiancé lives in that house and I came to visit him on Tuesday, I was in his apart­ment when I heard the cry of the girl. Another woman from the neighbourhood came out too and we both agreed that I should give the girl some food to eat.

I did, and when the woman (Chiamaka) came back, she came to me and issued a stern warning to me never to repeat what I had done. I didn’t mind her. The next day, she still chained the girl in the arms and legs. At that moment, the girl saw me and said ‘Aunty, please give me food to eat’. But I was reluctant to heed her request, because the woman (Chiamaka) had warned me to steer clear of the girl. Not too long after, I saw two men approaching our building and immediately, I sensed that they were policemen and that was how they arrested everyone they could lay their hands on and took us to Adigbe Police Station.”

Another neighbour, Taofeek Adebayo, said: “I learnt that the girl has always been mischie­vous. She steals from the house and the next thing she does is to run away from home. The last time she ran away, she was found at Ita Osin. I think the family had to tie her so that she won’t run away again.”
A kinsman of the suspect, who spoke to us on condition of anonymity gave a rather cultur­al insight into the incident.

He said: “My dear journalist, let me tell you something. You see, in Igboland, it is a stigma to the entire family to have a mad person in the family. That may make the family member to be ostracised from the community and this is the pain that this man (Okafor) has been dealing with. He has since been living with the problem of treating his wife who has partial madness and with that, I think he needs to be pitied and given some consideration.”

Promise at the orphanage
At the Stella Obasanjo Or­phanage in Ibara, where Prom­ise is presently being looked after, the matron of the home, who simply identified herself as Funke declined speaking with Sunday Sun, saying a directive would have to come from the Ministry of Women Affairs, which is the ministry that supervises the orphanage. All efforts to reach the perma­nent secretary of the ministry were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls put to him.

At the Zone 2 Police Com­mand in Ibara, Abeokuta, Acting Police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, while confirming that Chiamaka was still at large added that her hus­band was in police custody and investigation into the incident was ongoing.

He said: “Our men at Adigbe received information that a 10-year old girl was tied hands and legs to a burglary proof in an uncompleted building. Upon mobilising our men, the girl told us that her aunt did that to her on the allegation of stealing N4,000. We consider this as an act of wickedness because in the first instance, the girl is a minor.

The girl wouldn’t have taken up stealing if not that she was being starved because it is starvation that makes little children take to stealing. Some parents would say they are go­ing to discipline their children by starving them, not knowing that such would only push them to stealing. The woman has been on the run but, her husband was arrested and has been helping us in our inves­tigations. The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliasu, is not happy at all with the whole situ­ation.

Barely a week ago, a boy was rescued from chains under the guise of wanting to cast out an evil spirit from him. The CP has issued a stern warning to residents that such acts of wickedness won’t be tolerated. It is barbaric and unaccept­able. Now, the CP has ordered a manhunt for the woman so that others in her shoes will learn a lesson. As soon as we conclude our investigation, they (suspects) would be charged to court,” Oyeyemi said.
Source:Sunday Sun

LEAKED AUDIO: Toyin Aimakhu & Aramide Kasumu Wanted Part of the Money, Mayowa Ahmed’s Family Reveals

In an exclusive audio recording obtained by Abiyamo, a brother to Mayowa Ahmed (names withheld), the ovarian cancer patient who raised over $100,000 on her GoFundMe page (see
HERE) has accused actress Toyin Aimakhu and founder of the Lifestake Foundation, Aramide Kasumu of wanting part of the money raised for his sister.

In the audio recording, he said the foundation and Aimakhu were not interested in helping them for free and when they discovered that they were not going to get a penny, they resorted to blackmailing them and branding the whole thing a scam, listen to the audio visit link:

 http://abiyamo.com/leaked-audio-toyin-aimakhu-aramide-kasumu-wanted-part-of-the-money-mayowa-ahmeds-family-reveals


For those who do not understand Yoruba, here is the translation:

CALLER: I heard a rumour from some unfortunate people saying that Mayowa’s case is a scam, how far, is it true?  How is Mayowa feeling now, has she travelled?
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: Are you a stranger to Mayowa?
CALLER: Of course I do know her very well.

 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: Good, those of you who know her and her familiar with her case should tell everyone that it is a lie.  They (rumour mongers and accusers) are insane.

CALLER: Okay.
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: Thank God you met her, or didn’t you meet her?

CALLER: Of course. I lived with her (Mayowa).
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: And you are aware of her regular crises and all her afflictions, right?

CALLER: Of course.
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: Why do we have to lie about the whole thing, do we (Ahmed family) look like impoverished people? Or are the accusers unfortunate people?

CALLER: Ah, it will not be well with them (the accusers and rumour mongers). When people have donated over N32 million naira.
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: It was God that made it all possible and we did not even know that people will turn out like that. I hope you understand?

CALLER: You know the funniest part of it all? It was when I was hearing what all what Mayowa herself was saying.
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: What did she say?

CALLER: As in, if you see the videos they uploaded with what she was saying.
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: What did she say?

CALLER: (inaudible) I will share some of her videos with you.
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: Hello, when did she say that?

CALLER: Hello, can you hear me?
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: Hello, hello, hello. When did she share, when did she take the pictures?

CALLER: Both pictures and videos.
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: What did she say in them?

CALLER: She said that people should assist her that she is going through some pains and everything and that people should come to her aid and stuffs like that.
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: Ehn, everybody is aware of that already. Nobody is telling lies. T

here is no lie in her call for help. She needed help. She needed money, where were we going to get N32 million naira? And she decided to do a video to explain her condition to people.

You know the truth of the whole matter? All these foundations, all these people, in the course of that (the donations), different foundations came…

CALLER: Okay…
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: I hope you understand?

CALLER: Okay…
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: And all these foundations do not work alone. They all want money. Between you and I, people (from these foundations) will come to us and demand for various amounts of money (before they can assist us). You get?

CALLER: Yes.
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: They wanted their own part of the money.

CALLER: Okay…
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: That is the simple truth. That is why you are hearing crazy rumours like that. Even Toyin Aimakhu herself is a thief.

CALLER: Ah, oh, she (Toyin Aimakhu) is an unfortunate person. So she did not release the money?
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: No, there is money in the account. You understand? You know of the processing and all, you also know that some people do not get help for more than five, six months.

You get? So Mayowa was followed by the grace of God for her to be able to raise such an amount of money in less than three days. So we started processing. She will initially go to Dubai (United Arab Emirates). As a matter of fact, our biggest cousin is in the embassy, working on the processing.

Assuming we know the outcome was going to be like this, we could have even hastened the processing but where is the money? You can imagine running CT scans for more than five times.

You know how much CT scan costs? I did it. I left Lagos to do it in Ilorin because it was cheaper there where I did it for N100,000. In Lagos here, if you do not have N350,000, you cannot do it.

CALLER: I understand, I understand.

 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: That is not to talk of the series of tests which are even small.
CALLER: You know what happened? They should not release the money if it is in Mayowa’s account.

 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: The money is inside Mayowa’s account. Nobody is releasing it and there is no problem. Those of you who are family and friends should let everyone know the accusation is false. We do not have anything to hide. We are doing the processing and it is not that easy.

CALLER: Thank you very much my brother, it will also go live on Abiyamo’s page. I will send it to them.
 Mayowa Ahmed’s brother: Thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks.
Culled from abiyamo.com

NNPC HIKES KEROSENE PRICE TO N135 ON MONDAY

• Product racketeering worsens, sells at N180 per litre
The official price of kerosene will move up to N135 from N73 per litre on Monday, THISDAY investigation revealed wednesday.

According to reliable sources, the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has decided to increase the ex-depot price to N135 per litre with effect from Monday, after the next consignment of about 17,000MT capacity imported vessel arrives Lagos this week.

THISDAY gathered that following foreign exchange crisis, which makes it difficult for the private marketers to access foreign exchange at the official price, the PPMC assumed the sole importer of kerosene, thus leading to the scarcity of the product.
But THISDAY learnt that the public who are the end users would not be losing much as the product had always sold above the N73 official price because of racketeering by officials of PPMC and the marketers.

In the massive scam, officials of PPMC allocate the product to marketers at ex-depot price of N73 per litre, while the marketers sell to the public at over N180 per litre, THISDAY’s investigation revealed.
In a circular number: PPMC/MKT/IBN/01/2016, signed by one LNS Madubuike, the PPMC had directed marketers to pay N73 per litre for kerosene imported by the company. The marketers, however, sell the product to the public at between N180 and N250 per litre.

Some independent marketers, who could not get allocation from the PPMC, told THISDAY that some officials of PPMC collect bribe of N1 million on every truck of kerosene allocated to the marketers.
Another alleged scam by PPMC officials in kerosene importation, it was learnt, is that up to 50 trucks are not discharged in every imported vessel.

According to a PPMC source, after discharging kerosene to the private marketers, this quantity is left in the vessel by PPMC as Remain on Board (ROB) and nobody knows what happens to this product.
NNPC’s spokesman, Mr. Garuba Deen Muhammadu, however, told THISDAY yesterday that he would find out the true situation from the PPMC before responding to the issues raised.

But it was gathered that PPMC has been the sole importer of kerosene as the private marketers use their limited foreign exchange to focus on the importation of petrol.
An official of PPMC, who was not happy with the fraud in kerosene allocation, said that it was brisk business between some officials of the company and the marketers.

“We thought that things will change with the new administration. It actually changed initially but is now business-as-usual. It does not serve public interest to allocate kerosene at N73 or N135 per litre to some people at public expense and the beneficiaries will sell to the public at N180 and even N250 in some instances. This arrangement serves private pockets and something has to be done fast about it,” he said.
Investigation revealed that from the last consignment imported by the PPMC, the independent marketers were selling at ex-depot price of between N170 and 182 per litre.

Some of the independent marketers whose depots had sold kerosene between N170 and N182 per litre include: Capital Oil, Eterna Oil; Rahamaniyya, Aquitane, AA Rano, and Obat Oil.
It was also gathered from PPMC sources that Honeywell, Aiteo and NIPCO Plc would share the next consignment of PPMC’s kerosene that will arrive this week.

However, it was gathered that PPMC has increased the ex-depot price of this new consignment from N73 per litre to N135 per litre.
It was also learnt that because of the scam perpetrated by the marketers and the PPMC officials in kerosene allocation, the major marketers have shunned kerosene business to protect their business integrity.

“The whole kerosene thing is messy and that is why the major marketers do not want to get involved. The major marketers are not ready to give anybody bribe and sell above stipulated price. The whole thing improved when President Buhari came in initially. 

You will recall that Forte Oil became involved and it sold kerosene at N50 per litre to the public and it was publicised. But now, we are back to the status quo and the whole thing has become messy. The major marketers are not ready to play ball to get kerosene allocation,” said one of the major marketers, who spoke to THISDAY off the record.

At the early stage of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Forte Oil had commenced the sale of what it described as “Buhari Kerosene” at N50 per litre in its retail outlets in Lagos.
Source:Thisday

Inside church where 9-year-old was chained

•Neighbours desert vicinity
I regret my action- Father

The father who chained his son for months has claimed ignorance over the consequences of his actions, even as the boy has been handed over to appropriate government authorities.
The Ogun State Police Command handed over Korede to the care of the state government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, on Monday.

The handing over was done by the officer-in-charge of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, SP Oluwatoyosi Bello to the officials of the ministry within the premises of the Police Mobile Force Base, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.

The boy has since been taken to the Stella Obasanjo’s Home in Ibara.
The command’s spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed that the victim after the rescue mission, said he did not wish to return to his father’s house, and that the First Lady, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has indicated interest in taking care of the boy.
He said that the AIG, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, has ordered thorough investigation of the matter and that the suspects be charged to court.

“The officer in charge has just taken over the case today and we assure you the command will do proper investigation and we won’t waste time on that. The man will be charge to court; the step mum is also a suspect in the case so the command will charge two of them accordingly.

“The command was not happy that the boy was chained by his father for more than a month. If you look at the weight of the chain coupled with the weight of the padlock, you will know is too heavy for that boy. The boy is a rugged person and I am very sure God has a purpose of spearing his life. By the time police and Civil Defence rescued the boy, he couldn’t stand for hours, he was so weak, until he was taken to Onipanu Division of Ota by the DPO of the area and after the treatment he was able to stand on his feet.”

“It is a terrible case, apart from being criminal is inhuman, and the command condemns that in totality. The AIG has directed that the matter be thoroughly investigated. We want to assure the members of the public that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and we want to take the case very seriously because it must serve as deterrent to those who want to venture into this criminal act.

“Presently the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development will take over the boy from us because Korede said he was not going back to his family. The government has shown interest. I have received calls from the office of the First Lady of Ogun State and by the time we hand him over to the Ministry, I am very sure the first lady and the government will take over.”

The Director of Social Welfare Services, Mr. Shotubo olurotimi Olumide, who received Korede from the police, assured that the Ministry would take care of the boy.
Korede’s father, Taiwo, said that he did not know the implication of his action and that he regretted it.
His words: “I didn’t know there is punishment for my action, but now I know. I regret my action. I want forgiveness from the government”.

The step mum of Korede, Kehinde Taiwo pleaded with the government to forgive her and husband.
He said, “We used to advise him but because we didn’t know the implication that time, that was the reason we chained him. I want to beg  the government to forgive us.”
Atan-Ota is a community in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, and one of the areas within it is Ajibawo.

The area came to limelight last week Friday, when news filtered in about a father who chained one of his sons for several months because of his stealing habit.
The father who was said to be a bricklayer turned pastor, Francis Taiwo in connivance with his wife, Kehinde, locked up and chained the young boy, Korede Taiwo, for reasons best known to them.

The whole area of Ajibawo on the other side of Atan-Idiroko highway is springing up with new houses, but one can count the number of houses already occupied by the owners. They are just about six, including the Taiwos’ place.
The entire house was deserted on Monday afternoon, when Nigerian Tribune visited. The few people seen were carrying out their normal businesses.

The church where the crime was perpetrated was equally deserted. Not a single soul was seen.
Nigerian Tribune was taken round the premises by officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who had been following the case since it was discovered.

Within the premises of the church were two other structures, but the room where the nine year-old boy was caged for months was part of the church building.

Nigerian Tribune discovered that inside the room where young Korede was locked were blocks, two “Ghana Must Go Bags”, while the floor of the small room was full of sand.
The harrowing experience and trauma the boy underwent in the hands of his father and step-mother could better be imagined.

There was no one around to speak with on the matter as the few people seen were not willing to talk.
However, the Asiwaju of Egun people in Ajibawo, Chief Sylvester Agboola, described the action of Pastor Taiwo as inhuman and wicked acts.
Agboola said Taiwo had carried out similar action on his first child some years back, and that it took his intervention and that of other members of the community before the boy was released from “captivity”.

“When I learnt about this incident, I was shocked. This is the second time Francis will be so wicked to his children. The first case was brought to my notice when his neighbour alerted me.
“I told him about the implication of this act and he released the boy. I cannot imagine him repeating this wicked act again. It is so unfortunate.

“The entire Egun people in Ajibawo are very unhappy. This man has brought stain to our name and that is why he must face the law. How can one chain his child? Does he know what the boy will become? We are very unhappy and we urge the security agencies to investigate the matter thoroughly.”

Following the rescue of nine-year-old Korede Taiwo, last Friday through the joint effort of police officers and operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), child rights advocate and rights activists have called that states within the federation toe the line of the Federal Capital territory by domesticating the Child Rights Act.

While condemning the act of the father, Taiwo Francis and the society that allows people under the guise of religion to perpetrate evil, they called on state Houses of Assembly to take steps to quickly pass the Child Rights Act into law in all the States of the Federation.

Further, they asked that the law be applied in its full weight to treat the case of the pastor and asked that the child be taken by the state government so that his abusive parents will not destroy his future.
They further asked for an aggressive campaign that will educate parents that most acts of punishment is an abuse against the child and also explain to them that the fact that one
Source:Tribune

Pandemonium as Niger Delta militants invade Lagos community

There was pandemonium yesterday at Ewedogbon area of Totowu, a riverine community in Ishuti, Igando, old Alimosho Local Government Area, which was engulfed in a fresh attack by suspected Niger Delta militants. police Multiple sources said many people were killed as the militants entered into people’s houses to torment them. 

However, the casualty figure could not be ascertained at the time of this report. Residents of the community said the militants came very early and in large numbers wielding guns and other dangerous weapons.

A resident who did not want his name mentioned said the militants stormed the area and started killing people. He sent through a WhatsApp message that; “Please help us call emergency lines right now, Ewedogbo area of Igando, LASU Road is a theatre of war, Niger Delta militants are killing people right now, no one can call or go out, I am an eye witness, please, help us spread the information.”

The message was reportedly sent around 7am. He said no one could come out of their houses as the gunmen occupied the streets breaking into people’s houses at will. It was learnt that some policemen who had stormed the area at the time the militants wreaked havoc, ran back to mobilise.

Police sources also said the police had mobilised and had taken back the community from the militants as armoured personnel carrier had been stationed in the area. Dolapo Badmos, Lagos police spokesperson said the police were aware of the invasion and had deployed large numbers of policemen to the area to protect lives and properties. 

A member of the military team involved in yesterday’s operation to free the area, who preferred anonymity for security reasons, confirmed the attack, saying the militants came through one of the river terminal at about 7 am. 

The gun battle was said to have lasted several hours. According to an eyewitness, Adebisi Ojo, a resident; “The Niger Delta militants stormed Ewedogbon inside towards the water side. They have been there since 7 am this morning shooting sporadically.

They kidnapped two people. The other woman kidnapped three days ago was released because they found out that she is a pepper seller. “This is to inform all members of our communities that people should stay away from passing Ewedoghon/Adexon because of the ongoing shooting by the militants in the area,” he said.

The joint security outfit reportedly exchanged series of gunshots with the militants to repel them from advancing around Obadore/Iba water way community. According to another eyewitness, the battle was fierce around Fatoki area with bullet holes in buildings and properties. The residents in the swampy areas were seen running for their lives as the area came under heavy gun fire.

Some youths in the area were said to have carried weapons in case the militants came close. Men from Area “M’ Police command, Idimu and Igando headquarters reportedly had a hectic time battling the militants. Lagos and neighbouring Ogun State have suddenly become hotbeds of kidnapping and militancy. On different occasions, militants have attacked communities in Ikorodu and Igando and some riverine Ogun communities.
Source:Vanguard