Corpses have been burnt beyond recognition after fire gutted a private mortuary in Agagbe community of Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue State. The Police confirmed that six corpses were burnt in the inferno. Witnesses said the fire occurred about 6 pm on Friday and raged until all the deposited dead bodies in the morgue burnt beyond recognition. It was learnt that the mortuary is owned by a religious body, the St Francis Xavier Parish, Agagbe in Gwer West LGA. Some witnesses said the cause of the fire wasn’t known, while others alleged it could have been mischief from some people in the vicinity. The witnesses also said that the relatives of the corpses kept at the morgue ran helter-skelter in vain in an attempt to put off the fire but to no avail. Although the Director of State Fire Service, Engr. Donald Ikyaaza told our correspondent that he wasn’t aware of the incident. When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue command, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident. Anene said that six corpses were burnt in the fire, adding, that the DPO in charge of the area was present at the site at the time of this report to ascertain further details.

  Five workers are reportedly trapped under the rubble of a three-storey building which collapsed in Yaba, Lagos, on Saturday. An official of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), who didn’t want to be named, confirmed the development on Saturday. The LASEMA official said rescue efforts are ongoing at the site of the building, which is located at Akanbi street, a short distance away from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) main gate. The agency’s response team, alongside paramedics, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Lagos fire service are presently the the scene of the incident for rescue operations. “Upon arrival of LASEMA response team at the incident scene, a three-storey building under construction was discovered to have collapsed,” the official said. “Further investigation revealed that the construction workers numbering about five were on site when the structure came down and are still trapped underneath.” An eyewitness also said a part of the building had collapsed late last year, but the construction had continued.

  Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has alleged that on Saturday he was prevented by security personnel at the main entrance of the Air Force Base (NAF) in Makurdi, the State capital while on his way to receive the Vice-President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. Osibanjo was traveling to Wukari, Taraba State en route to the Makurdi military airport in Benue to attend the convocation of the Federal University, Wukari. But, Ortom, who told newsmen in Makurdi that he was denied entrance at the gate of the Air Force base by the security personnel despite receiving a notice earlier that the vice-president will be passing through his territory, described the action by the security personnel as unacceptable, breach of protocol and politics taken too far. The governor regretted that although he had initially set out to attend the burial of Professor Ignatius Ayua, he had to delegate his deputy to stand in for him in order to receive the Vice President when he received communication via a letter from the presidency intimating him of the vice president’s transit visit. He noted that the letter addressed to him from the State House Abuja dated 10th February 2022 with reference VP/SP/DOP/26 was titled: “Visit of His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, Vice President, the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Wukari, Taraba State transiting NAF Base, Makurdi, on Saturday, 12th February 2022”. The letter which was signed by Ambassador Abdullahi Qwary indicated that the vice president would also return through the same route in the afternoon. Speaking on the development, Ortom said, “Gentlemen of the press, it is unfortunate that an ugly incident occurred today, which is a breach of protocol and I feel so sad for our country Nigeria, where everything has been reduced to politics. There are certain things you don’t politicise. “It is a normal thing, when distinguished dignitaries, like the President or the Vice-President, is passing through your state, that the governor receives him. “I decided to mandate the Deputy Governor to represent me at the burial of Prof. Ayua. So, this morning, I got prepared and went to the Air Force base, where the Vice President is supposed to land, en route Wukari and unfortunately, I was bounced at the gate; in my own state. “It doesn’t happen. This is a breach of protocol and this is not accepted. This is politics taken too far. This is not correct and somebody must account for this. “If a personality like the Vice President is visiting my state and I cannot go there to welcome him, then it will be a breach of protocol on my part. How can I go to the Air Force base and I am bounced at the gate? I mean, it has never happened, anywhere in this country. He continued, “Maybe, the same Presidency that wrote to me is not aware. But I think we should, if we must make progress, to differentiate between politics and government activities. It is a government activity that I welcome Mr President or Vice President; that I welcome any dignitary that comes here from the Federal Government. “There is no permanent enemy or permanent friend in politics. Tomorrow I can be the best friend of the President if they choose to do the right thing. I do not have any problem with the President or Vice President and all the things that I say they are meant to add value to our development and get things right. “I have never insulted the President, the Vice President or the Federal Government but there are certain things that they are doing which are wrong that should be corrected. I will report this breach to the Vice President because it was protocol for me to have gone to receive him and then see him off, also, to receive him back when going to Abuja. It’s really unfortunate. I feel very sorry,” Ortom explained. Contacted, the NAF Command Public Relations Officer, Wing Commander, Chris Erondu, simply referred our correspondent to his superiors in Abuja.

  Police authorities in Ogun State have arrested a couple with fresh human parts hidden in their house. This was announced in a statement issued on Saturday, in Abeokuta, the state capital by the police public relations officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi. The couple, Kehinde Oladimeji (aged 43) and his wife Adejumoke Raji (aged 35), who are residents of 72, MKO Abiola way Leme Abeokuta were arrested following a report lodged at Kemta Divisional Headquarters by the community leader, Moshood Ogunwolu. “The community leader reported that one Pastor Adisa Olarewaju who is a co-tenant with the suspects informed him of offensive odours coming out from the room of the suspects. “Upon the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, Kemta Division, Chief Superintendent of Police Adeniyi Adekunle quickly led his detectives to the scene where the search was conducted. “On searching the room, a plastic bowl containing fresh different human parts were discovered in the room, and the couple, promptly arrested,” the police statement read in part. The suspects, upon interrogation, confessed they were herbalists and that the human parts comprised of hands, breasts, and other parts, which were given to them by one Michael who they claimed resided in the Adatan area of Abeokuta. “All efforts to locate the said Michael proved abortive as the suspects could not locate his house,” the statement added. The police said the dismembered body of an unknown person was found in a swamp area at Leme area of Abeokuta about a week ago, but it is not yet clear whether the parts are that of the found body or not. The commissioner of police, CP Lanre Bankole has, since ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the Homicide Section of the state criminal investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation. The CP vowed that anyone who is directly or indirectly involved in the crime would be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

  A tenant, Nwachukeu Oge Kings, has shared the list of items he received from the son of his landlord, Ngozie Ugochukwu in preparation for the burial of his father Ugochukwu Okezie in Abia State. In a letter shared on social media, the man was told to bring a goat, N5000 for the opening is table and schnapps, wine for speech and N5000, a cash gift of N100,000 and a whole lot more. Kings, who shared the letter on Twitter did so in response to a viral letter purportedly written by the Olu of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi asking the Osun State government for money for his wedding to a Kano princess. He shared the letter addressed to him with the caption, “You never see anything sef . My landlord just died and his son wrote a list of items that I will give to him as his tenant for his burial rites.” The burial is slated for 9th March at Umunkaru village in Isiala Okpu Autonomous Community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. However NIGERIAN PILOT could not reach the landlord’s son, Ngozie Ugochukwu for comments when contracted.