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A gang comprised of three teenagers on Wednesday set a three-bedroom bungalow on fire after stealing valuable items including foodstuffs, groceries and clothing in the Gaa Akanbi area of Ilorin, Kwara State capital.
The incident happened at No 59 Afenifere Community in the Onireke area, Gaa Akanbi, in the Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State at about 12 pm on Wednesday.
One of the teenagers was identified as 18-year-old Olawumi Olamide who also gave the name of one of the gang mates as Isiaka.
PUNCH Metro gathered from eyewitnesses that the three teenagers decided to set the house on fire after their bid to steal the goods from the house was foiled by the residents of the area.
The Kwara State Fire Service Service which put off the fire said that valuable items such as a mattress, documents, Plasma television and clothing were destroyed in the inferno.
A statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Hassan Adekunle, said, “On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 12:11 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded swiftly to a fire at No. 59, Afenifere Community, Onireke, Gaa-Akanbi area, Ilorin.
“Upon arriving at the scene, the fire officers found a three-bedroom bungalow engulfed in flames. The officers immediately began extinguishing the fire and managed to bring it under control within 25 minutes.
“Despite their efforts, two rooms were completely ravaged by the inferno, with items such as a mattress, valuable documents, a plasma TV, and clothing destroyed”, the fire service said.
He said investigations revealed that the fire was an act of arson committed by a gang of thieves who had stolen foodstuffs, groceries, and clothing, noting that after being discovered by residents and community members, the gang set the house on fire in a desperate attempt to escape.
“One member of the three-person gang, 18-year-old Olawumi Ayomide, was apprehended by the community. During his capture, Ayomide stabbed a man twice before being handed over to the community chairman, Mr Azeez Jamiu, and subsequently turned over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Tanke Division”, the statement further said.
Ayomide confessed in a video recording during interrogation by the community members, who stripped him naked, that one of the gang members who he identified as Isiaka set the mattress on fire to distract people’s attention before he escaped into the bush.
The Public Relations Officer of NSCDC in the state, ASC Ayoola Michael, said he would find out from the Tanke Division where the suspect was detained and get back to our correspondent when he was contacted on Wednesday.
He however had not got back to us as of the time of filing this report.
However, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade Olumuyiwa, urged the public to remain vigilant and prioritise safety always.
