A devastating fire engulfed a parish of the Christ Apostolic Church in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday night, reportedly trapping several worshippers inside.

The incident occurred at about 9:30 pm at Wisdom Estate, Road 1G, Olohunda Road, in the Lagelu Local Government Area, sources confirmed to PUNCH Online on Saturday morning.

Eyewitness accounts revealed that the church was hosting a Friday vigil when the fire broke out.

One source recounted, “The incident happened in the night around 9:30pm. I think they were having Friday vigil. Some worshippers had already slept off, to have some rest before they start vigil when the incident happened.”

Another source described the harrowing scene, saying “There was an aged woman, very old to the extent that she could not work properly. She was still inside the church when the fire was raging seriously.”

A church member, who requested anonymity, said, “People were still inside the church during the fire . I will get back to you later, please.”

As of the time of reporting, the exact cause of the fire remains unclear.

Confirming the incident, the General Manager of Oyo State Fire Services, Akinyemi Akinyinka, said, “Our men were there based on information from one Kunle Junaid.”

He promised to provide further updates.

Police in Benue State have arrested a lecturer at the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Dr Ichor Tersagh, for allegedly masterminding the abduction of the wife of his colleague, Mrs Susan Anyagh.

Her husband, Paul Anyagh, is the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, JOSTUM chapter.

It was gathered that the woman was ambushed and kidnapped by some men along Otukpo Road, Makurdi, last Saturday.

The kidnappers were said to have collected the N1.3 million found in her car, beat her to a coma and abandoned her on a bush path.
The state command spokesperson, Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday, said that the woman was later found along Yandev-Ugbema Road, where she was rushed to Primary Healthcare Clinic, Ameladu, for treatment.

According to the PPRO, the victim, after she regained consciousness, narrated how she saw her husband’s colleague close to where she was abducted and beckoned on him to save her life, but the lecturer turned his back away from her.

The PPRO said in a statement, “She stated that while she was driving from NNPC mega fuel station, Kanshio, where she went to collect money from her customer, she was flagged down at Otukpo Road by persons who claimed to be in need, and she stopped to render help.

They quickly jumped into her car and pointed a gun at her, ordering her to drive towards the Wurukum area.

“Immediately, she looked outside the car and saw her husband’s colleague; Dr. Ichor Tersagh Smart of JOSTUM standing by the car, she beckoned on him for help but he turned his back and walked away.”

The statement added, “While moving in the vehicle, her abductors received a call from Dr Ichor ordering that she should be killed, and she became agitated.

“When they sighted a police checkpoint ahead that was checking vehicles, they decided to reverse to a hidden place.

“They parked the car, brought her out, collected the sum of N1,350,000 she had in the car, opened the car boot, and took a vehicle jack, which they used to hit the back of her neck, and she fell.”

Anene said the lecturer had been arrested in connection with the case, and the investigation is ongoing.

When contacted on Friday, the husband of the victim, who confirmed the incident, said he was currently at the police command headquarters over the case and promised to provide further details later.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a suspected online fraudster, Osang Usie Otukpa, for allegedly duping 139 Australians to the tune of $AUD8,000,000 (Eight Million Australian Dollars).

He was picked up in a stake out at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos upon arrival from the United States of America on Friday, December 6, 2024.

Otukpa, who goes by five aliases, namely: Ford Thompson, Oscar Donald Tyler, Michael Haye, Jose Vitto and Kristin Davidson scammed the victims by luring them on the social media to invest in his rogue cryptocurrency investment platform, Liquid Asset Group, LAG.

The proceeds of the alleged crimes were routed to his bank accounts through a global cryptocurrency exchange platform.

He would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.