By Akintunde Jacobs,Akure
The Ondo State Police Command at the weekend arrested a grandmother, Christiana Kehinde, for allegedly dipping her eight-year-old granddaughter’s hand inside hot water in Ondo town.
The suspect, who was paraded at the police headquarters, Igbatoro road, Akure, alongside others eight suspects for criminal offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery was said to have committed the offence at Abejoye Odojoka area of Ondo town, in Ondo West Local Government Area of the state.
While parading the suspect, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmilayo Odunlami, said the grandmother who was always fond of maltreating her granddaughter Suliat Tunde ‘f’ Aged 8, dipped the girl’s hand inside hot water and kept her in the house because she stole from her pot of soup and that the hand was almost rotten.
She said, “On the 6th of June, 2022, a concerned neighbour reported a case of child abuse against one Christiana Kehinde ‘f’ Aged 52 of No. 13 Abejoye Odojoka, Ondo town. Investigation has commenced as the suspect claims she was only trying to use that as a measure to curtail her from eating her soup without her consent. The girl has been referred to Trauma Center in Ondo town for plastic surgery.”
Odunlami also said policemen via intelligence gathering arrested Adewale Ogunpo; Ibrahim Azumi; Sunday Benson and Abdulazeez Isah for robbing a victim the sum of N185,750, after they broke into one hotel, ‘Toptex’ at Odopetu street, Akure.
“On the 20th of June, 2022, a case of armed robbery was reported at SWAT office, Akure that on the 19th June, 2022 at about 8:30pm, a gang of armed robbers broke into Toptex Hotel at No. 46, Odopetu Street, Akure, in Hunters Group of Nigeria Uniform and started shooting sporadically into the air and robbed the victim the sum of One Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Naira Only (185,750.00).
“In the course of interrogation, all the suspects confessed to have partook in the crime while two single barrel gun; two pairs of hunter uniform and cap; one Infinix hot10 phone; four expended cartridges and sixteen boris were recovered from them.
“In the same vein, on the 5th of July, 2022 at about 0900hrs, Policemen were informed about a suspected robber, one Ogundipe Deji ‘m’ Aged 23, that he was receiving treatment from gunshot wound at Alafiatayo Street, Akure.
“Upon the receipt of the information, a team of detectives moved to the scene and arrested the said suspect with one Ojo Emmanuel ‘m’ Aged 31 with gunshot wound.
“During interrogation, both suspects confessed to have been shot by a night guard on the night of 4th of July, 2022 where they went to steal iron rod along NEPA area of Akure. Items recovered were, one black TVS Motorcycle with Reg. No. AKR 022 VC and two ATM Cards,” she stressed.
The PPRO said the police also arrested a 22-year old lady, Adeola Omoniyi for stealing a five-year old girl at Ore, in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
“On the 1st of July, 2022, a case of Child Stealing was reported at Ore Division, a grandmother sent her grand daughter Precious Aje ‘f’ 5years, on errand and on her way she was accosted by one Adeola Omoniyi ‘f’ of Ilutitun, Okeasa Street, held her and was taking her away but for the neighbours who recognized the child and raised alarm before she was rescued.
“The suspect confessed to have stolen Two (2) kids which she sold for Thirty Thousand Naira Only (N30,000.00) each while she said her father was the one who sold the children. Her father has been arrested and he is helping the Police with necessary information needed.
“Also, on the 6th of July, 2022, at Ikare-Akoko, one Mrs. Bamitale left her 3years old child in her shop to buy some toiletries, before she came back, one Aanu Afolabi Aged 23 went into the shop carried the girl and backed her, as she was about crossing the road, she ran into a motorcyclist, while the motorcyclist and people around where trying to help her, one of the sympathisers realize the the child she was carrying belongs to her neighbour and raised alarm. An android phone was found in her possession, including a bucket,” Odunlami added.