The Ondo State Police Command has dragged two persons before the Akure Magistrates’ Court over a missing 14-year-old girl.
The suspects, who were arraigned on Thursday allegedly conspired to abduct the girl, thereby committing an offence, Inspector Simon Wada, the police prosecutor told the court.
Identifying the suspects as 32-year-old Omolola Adebayo (female) and Oluwatimilehin Agunloko, aged 17 (male), Wada said they committed the offences on Oct. 28 in Owo in Owo Local Government Area of the state.
According to the police inspector, Agunloko was the boyfriend of the missing girl while the other suspect was believed to have had the last phone conversation with her.
Wada said the offences contravened Sections 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006 and Section 3 of the Anti Kidnapping and Anti Abduction Law of Ondo State.
However, the defendants each pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Ruling on their bail application, the magistrate, Damilola Sekoni, granted the defendants N500,000 bail each and adjourned the case to January 18, 2024, for hearing.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State fire service have saved goods valued at N25 billion after a fire outbreak gutted the main market at Oja-Tuntun in Ilorin, the state capital.
Although the cause of the fire remains unknown at the time of this report, there are indications that the fire incident occurred at approximately 21:18 hours, on Wednesday.
According to the spokesman of the fire service, Hassan Adekunle, “Upon arrival, the fire crew found numerous shops ablaze and worked swiftly to control and extinguish the fire.
“Two fire appliances from different stations, namely Brigade Headquarters and Folawiyo Road Fire Station, collaborated to tackle the situation effectively.”
He said the Oja-Tuntun market, which houses 1072 shops, 984 stands, and 27 warehouses, experienced minimal damage, with only 15 shops affected by the inferno.
“The fire service’s prompt and efficient response helped save commodities and property valued at over N25b. The cause of the fire couldn’t be affirmed yet while an investigation is ongoing.”