Police arrest 2 suspects for alleged gang-rape of 17 year old girl in Ekiti

Ekiti State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two suspects in connection with the gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl.

The teenager was hawking sachet waters and soft drinks around 7pm on Monday when she was attacked at the popular Oja’ba market in Ado-Ekiti. 

Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu noted that the Command has commenced an investigation into the matter, assuring that the case would be thoroughly prosecuted and ensure justice prevails. 

The medical bill of the victim was offset by the Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, a world-renowned gender activist,  she is the Chairman of the Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence Management Committee (GBVMC). 

Ritualists kill 78-year-old woman in Ekiti, drain her blood, remove vital organs

Residents of Odo-Oja area of Ikere-Ekiti, in Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State, are currently wallowing in fear following the gruesome murder of a 78-year-old widow, suspected to have been killed by ritualists.

Ekiti Police  Command Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), ASP Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the incident, described it as “unfortunate and mysterious”.

Abutu said investigation had begun into the case and that the Criminal Investigation Department, had been directed to take over the case.

He added that the corpse of the deceased had since been recovered, and deposited in the morgue of the State Specialist Hospital in Ikere Ekiti.

Concerned local sources, had earlier told newsmen that the victim, Mrs Sabianah Aranilewa was not only killed, her blood was drained and vital organs were removed by suspected rituals.

Also confirming the reports, the deceased’s son, Mr Eyitope Aranilewa, said his mother had earlier gone missing on Friday, May 29, around 6: 45a.m while washing clothes at her residence along Moshood road, Odo-Oja area of Ikere-Ekiti.

He said his mother’s friend referred to as Mrs Ojolo, first raised the alarm and organised a search party, but efforts to find her proved abortive until 4p.m when her corpse was found inside a stream with her throat slit and other vital organs removed.

Said he: “On that fateful day I got a distress call that my mother was missing.

“It was my mother’s friend, Mrs Ojolo who resides within a short distance from her shop that raised the alarm when she did not see her in the shop

“The matter was immediately reported at the Police station, but it was not long that information came that her body had been located at a place not far from the home.

“She was slaughtered like a goat and the corpse dumped in a shallow stream, flowing through the back of her home,’’ he said.

Ekiti State Government has detected five new COVID-19 positive cases in the state.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade,  disclosed this while briefing journalists on the update of the  Covid-19 pandemic in the State.

The Commissioner who expressed displeasure at the five new cases, said two of them were health workers, while the other three were patients who were in the hospital where the woman who came in from Kwara State and eventually died stayed.

She added that, testing of people with the molecular laboratory would begin soon, adding that the earlier two COVID-19 patients in the isolation centre have again been tested, found negative, and have been discharged.

The Coordinator of Taskforce on COVID-19 in the State, Professor Mobolaji Aluko, maintained that security at the Ekiti borders remain tight, noting that those who attempted to gain access from outside the State, were resisted.

Professor Aluko affirmed that the Taskforce on COVID-19 could not unilaterally decide the re-opening of schools and churches, adding that all stakeholders would be have to be consulted.

The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Honourable Gbenga Agbeyo, who said the State Government has procured more effective fumigation machines with chemicals for effective job delivery, said his team was busy fumigating strategic places which also includes the isolation centre.

Fayemi commiserates with Ajero over fire outbreak

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has commiserated with the Owa Ajero of Ijero Ekitit, Oba  Ajewole Adebayo over the destruction of part of his palace during a fire incident last month.

The governor who was  represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Biodun Omoleye, on Tuesday, made an on the spot assessment of the damaged palace, sympathized with the monarch over the fire incident and assured him of  government's support.

He said; "I hope and believe very soon, some help will come from the government to the palace of Ijero kingdom.

"It is our prayer that such unfortunate incident will never happen again in this palace. We pray that this will be a stepping stone for the transformation of the entire palace."

Responding, Oba Ajewole expressed gratitude to the Governor for the visit and the planned support.

Oba Ajewole said he was  thankful to God that the inferno did not take any life, even as he revealed that six children were evacuated from the building through the window during the fire  outbreak.

"We thank God and pray that God will not allow us witness such a disaster again"  the Monarch said .

#JusticeForBarakat: Teenage student raped to death in Ibadan

An 18 - year - old student of the Federal College of Animal and Production Technology Moore Plantation, Apata, Ibadan , has been raped and killed in Ibadan .

The teenager, Barakat Bello , who was undertaking the National Diploma programme in Science Laboratory Technology, was reportedly attacked on June 1 , 2020 .

The development comes days after a first- year student of the University of Benin, Uwa Omozuwa , was raped and killed in a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Edo State .

According to reports , the latest attack on 18 - year - old Barakat took place at her home in Akinyele, Ibadan .

Initial reports stated that the corpse was found near the house .

The father of the deceased , Kasimu Elepo, told Sahara Reporters that he was not at home when the incident occurred.

He disclosed that the deceased ’s sister was also out of the house at the time the tragic incident occurred .

According to him, the victim’s sister found Barakat’s body at the back of the house in a pool of blood when she returned from Qur ’anic lessons.

He said, “ I was not at home when the incident happened. The younger sister was not at home too , she went for Qur ’anic lessons but when she returned home , she saw her at the back of the house with deep cuts all over her body . She had been raped and killed.

“ Somebody called me on the telephone that I should come home but he refused to tell me what happened. When I got home , I saw that my daughter had been raped and stabbed to death .”

Meanwhile , the National Association of Nigerian Students, Zone D, has demanded justice for the victim, saying that the raping of women must stop.

COVID-19: FG advises persons aged 55+ to stay away from churches, mosques

The Federal Government has advised those above the age of 55 to stay away from congregational worships.

This was contained in the guidelines released by the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 for religious centres to resume activities .

During a briefing in Abuja on Tuesday , PTF National Coordinator , Sani Aliyu, said, “ In view of the widespread community transmission of COVID- 19, it is important that places of worship operate in a safe manner to ensure the protection of public health , avoid outbreaks and safeguard the health of the vulnerable members of the population.

“ To this end , the guidelines have been developed as a minimum set of standards that have to be complied with for places of worship to safely operate nationwide.

“ They have been developed by the PTF in liaison with the leadership of religious communities in the country and should be used as a baseline for states to allow these activities .

“ It is important to note that due to the nature of religious congregations, places of worship are particularly recognised to have a major potential for spreading COVID- 19 infections amongst worshippers .

“ Volunteers should be limited to exact numbers needed and none of the volunteers should have underlying medical conditions or be above the age of 55 years.

“ No social gatherings before or after worship .

“ Those with underlying conditions or above 55 are strongly advised to stay at home and explore virtual participation .

“ Windows should be left open during services and preferably use open- air facility as much as possible .”

Others include that worshippers must sanitise their hands, use face masks, avoid handshakes, and temperature checks be done before entry at worship centres.

The national coordinator stressed that the responsibility for enforcement of the guidelines rests on religious leaders and state governments. (Punch)