The Ogun State Police Command is presently searching for
a bar manager, Mr. Bidemi Shittu, who allegedly poured
petrol on his 13-year-old attendant, Ezekiel Emmanuel, and
set him ablaze. It was gathered that the manager took the
action because the teenager reportedly stole N1,500 from
him.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident happened in the
Akoka area of Ibafo, Ogun State, on Monday, February 9.
The runaway suspect, Bidemi, who is married with children,
was the manager of Golden
Fingers Bar in the area, while Emmanuel was one of his
attendants.
Bidemi, who had accused Emmanuel of theft on Sunday,
allegedly tied the teenager’s hands and feet in a room in his
bar till Monday, waiting for him to admit the offence.
It was gathered that on Monday, at about 11.30pm, Bidemi
brought Emmanuel out to the front of the bar, poured petrol
on the boy and set fire on him. Luckily, some residents,
who were out at the time, rescued the victim.
They were said to have rushed Emmanuel to a private
hospital in the area where he was initially treated before he
was referred to the Lagos State University Teaching
Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, the following day.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the matter was reported to the
Ibafo Police Division, and the policemen sealed off the bar.
However, it was gathered that the suspect, Bidemi, fled
before he could be arrested.
When their correspondent got to the area on Thursday,
Emmanuel’s uncle, Mr. Toyin Olayemi, said the boy was
rejected by four different hospitals before he was
eventually taken to LASUTH.
He said:
“Emmanuel’s father is not around. He went to his
hometown in Ekiti because he fell ill. On Tuesday
morning when they told me about Emmanuel. I rushed
to the private hospital and I saw him on the bed,
severely burnt from head to abdomen.
He was working on part-time basis in the bar,
although Bidemi did not pay him any salary.
Emmanuel is also learning generator repair at a
workshop. I was told that the manager accused him
of stealing N1,500.
Despite pleas from neighbours that they would repay
him, he waited till everyone had gone to sleep and
brought out the boy and burnt his body.
The private hospital asked us to take him away the
following day. We went to about four government
hospitals which rejected him before we came to
LASUTH.
Since that Tuesday, they have not allowed us to see
him. They said he was still under observation. The
suspect too has run away. We learnt that a policeman
in the Ibafo division tipped Bidemi off to evade
arrest.”
When Punch visited the suspect’s father, Pa Shittu, he said
that the most important thing was for the victim to get well.
He said:
“My wife went to check the boy in the hospital. The
doctors did not allow her to see him, but they told her
that he was responding to treatment. I have spent
about N150,000 on his treatment. I have not seen
Bidemi. I don’t know his whereabouts. He has refused
to pick my calls. The most important thing is for the
child to get well.”
On getting to the private hospital in Ibafo where Emmanuel
was initially treated, the doctor said he ensured that he was
in a stable condition before he was transferred.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi,
confirmed the incident. He added that the police were
intensifying efforts to arrest the suspect. He said:
“The suspect poured petrol on the boy for
stealing. He maltreated him, tied his hands and feet,
and set him on fire. The boy is still in the hospital and
the suspect is presently at large. But the police will
arrest the suspect.
This act is not only criminal, but also barbaric. We
are intensifying efforts to get him and we will.” CLICK HERE TO READ FULL AND TOUCHING NIGERIAN CELEBRITIES BIOGRAPHY AND SCANDALS
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