CITY NEWS 2 minors die as fire razes huts in Abaji Police arrest six over molestation
Police arraign 3 over N.1m energy theft - AEDC
Aboy and a girl were killed in a fire incident in Bwaji community in Abaji Area Council yesterday.
The children were burnt to death in the fire which destroyed the hut in which they were sleeping.
A resident, who gave his name as Suleiman, said the incident happened at midnight on Thursday, adding that the source of the fire was yet to ascertained.
He said the mother of the two children, who was also carrying a year-old child, was sleeping The police have arraigned three men over energy theft of 4,040 kilowatts (kw), valued at N108,952 before an Area Court sitting in Karshi, Abuja Municipal Area Council.
The suspects – Mr. Yarfado Mohammed, Mr. Adewale Joshua, and Mr. Kayode Babatunde – allegedly inside the hut when the fire started.
“The woman was apparently confused. So she ran out with the child in her hands seeking for help. But before she could get help, the two children got trapped,” he said.
He said the father of the children, identified as Malam Shehu, was not at home when the fire started, saying before some residents from Gurdi village who got wind of the incident arrived the scene, the fire had already consumed the two children.
He said the two corpses had already been buried. consumed the electricity quantum illegally, an offence contrary to Section 286 (2) of the Penal Code, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) said in a statement.
The prosecuting counsel, Barrister Mahmud Lawal, accused the defendants of bypassing the electricity metres issued to them by AEDC, thereby consuming 2,760kw,
Our reporter gathered that residents of the community were mostly dry season farmers and they erect huts as temporary abode.
When contacted, the Abaji Divisional Police Officer(DPO), CSP David Kolo, said he was not aware of the incident, saying he would find out from his men at Yaba police outpost.
Meanwhile, four people sustained injuries in a fire outbreak in a building in Gwarinpa.
Witnesses said four people were trapped in the fire which started at about 7p.m. on Tuesday in a building on 69 Road 864kw, and 396kw respectively in the process.
The statement issued by AEDC spokesman, Ahmed Shekarau, said the First Information Report (FIR) from the police dated February 2, 2017, stated that the suspects consumed electricity worth N67,680, N31,650, and N9,622.80 dishonestly by bypassing their metre. near the Galadima’s palace.
Fire wardens from the Gwarinpa Fire Station, assisted by the police, put off the fire and rescued the people inside.
The Gwarinpa Divisional Police Officer, CSP Nuruddeen Sabo confirmed the incident.
He said “combined efforts of our men and fire fighters put off the fire. Four persons got burnt and were rushed to Kubwa General Hospital for treatment while value of property lost is yet to be ascertained,” he said.
He said preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was caused by an explosion from a gas cylinder.
The defendants through their counsel, Barrister Ibolu Augustine, pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested for their bail on liberal terms.
Justice Aliyu Ibrahim granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 each and two sureties each of who must be of reputable character in like sum and adjourned the case till April 14, 2017. Six men have been arrested by the police for allegedly molesting a woman at Tipper Garage, Gwarinpa.
The incident involving seven men happened at about 3:02p.m. on Monday.
Police sources said the victim identified only as Talatu was accosted by the men and they collected her money, destroyed her food flask and physically assaulted her.
Gwarinpa Divisional Police Officer, CSP Nuruddeen Sabo said policemen were immediately deployed to the scene where six people were arrested and one escaped.
He said the victim did not sustain physical injury but she was manhandled
“We didn’t get the money maybe the one that escaped was with the money but the destroyed flask was recovered,” he said adding that they were making effort to arrest the fleeing suspect.