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News_Naija

OAU Mourns Student Electrocuted While Retrieving Ball

A student at the Distant Learning Centre of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (name not given) has reportedly been electrocuted while retrieving a ball from a compound in Moro, Osun State. Sources near the scene of the incident said it happened Saturday evening in a private hostel located along the Moro/Ife route. It was learnt that the deceased had gone to the compound next to the one where he lived to retrieve a ball. After retrieving the ball, he was said to have thrown it to his colleagues and was about to jump over the fence when, unknowingly, he had contact with a high-tension wire, which immediately electrocuted him. A resident of Moro, who was close to the scene of the incident, told The PUNCH on Sunday on condition of anonymity, “The incident happened on Saturday. The deceased was playing football in his hostel with other boys. “The ball strayed across the fence to the next compound. The deceased volunteered to jump across the fence to retrieve the ball, but he accidentally came into contact with a dangling high-tension wire on the fence. The wire was brought down on Friday by the rainstorm. “He was immediately electrocuted. When his colleagues observed he was not moving, they used a stick to separate him from the wire, and he was rushed down to a private hospital in Ipetumodu. He was confirmed dead at the facility.” When contacted, the OAU Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, confirmed the incident and condoled with the family of the deceased. Olanrewaju said, “It is unfortunate that we recorded an incident that was not palatable yesterday (Saturday) where we lost a prominent youngster.” One of our CDL students was aspiring to come to the university after the completion of his programme. “Report had it that they were playing football in the evening and the ball fell into a compound that was fenced and unknown to the young man, he jumped into the fence because he was the one that played the ball into the compound and it was a rule that anybody who played the ball into the compound will go to retrieve it. “In compliance with the rule, the boy went in there, and we were told that that was the first time the boy would play with them. So, he went in there, retrieved the ball, and threw it out to his colleagues, but when he wanted to come out, he climbed the fence but unknowingly put his hand on a high-tension wire and got electrocuted. “It was when his colleagues felt he should have come back that they went to check and saw that he was there shivering. They rushed to him, and one of them picked a stick and removed the life wire from his hand. He was rushed to the facility at the Center for Distance Learning at the university. “They said he was brought in dead, and they took him to another hospital where they said the boy was already dead. The Director of the CDL, Professor Femi Koya, had already contacted the parents to relate the unfortunate incident to them.”

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News_Naija

Police Arrest Three For Hijacking Petrol-loaded Truck

Oyo State Police Command, on Sunday, confirmed the arrest of the three suspected armed robbers in connection with the hijacking of a truck loaded with 45,000 litres of the Premium Motor Spirits popularly known as petrol on Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode road. A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, in Ibadan, the state capital, said the recovered product belongs to NIPCO Petroleum Nigeria Limited. He named the suspects as Oyekunle Olaoluwa, 35 years, and Akanji Ladele (real name undisclosed), 51 years, and Basiru Azeez, 30, who was the brain behind the hijack and subsequent diversion. The PPRO further stated, “On April 5, 2025, at approximately 1:00 am, the command’s monitoring unit received actionable intelligence regarding a hijacking incident involving a DAF truck with registration number Adamawa YLA 575 ZY on the Ijebu-Ode-Ibadan road. Preliminary investigations indicated the involvement of an armed group equipped with sophisticated firearms. “In response to this intelligence, specialized operatives from the command’s monitoring unit were swiftly activated to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice. “Their efforts led to the discovery of the hijacked truck at Lincoln Filling station, Odo-Ona Kekere, Ibadan, where the suspects were in the process of siphoning the PMS.” Osifeso explained that during preliminary investigations, the suspects disclosed that the hijacked truck was transferred to them by a third individual known as Femi, who allegedly masterminded the hijacking alongside his accomplices. “This revelation led to the identification and subsequent arrest of Basiru Azeez, 30, a pivotal figure in the operation who has since confessed to his role in orchestrating the hijacking and provided details on how the truck was diverted after the crime,” he added. The police then assured the public that investigations would continue diligently, focusing on dismantling the criminal network and holding all individuals involved accountable for their actions. The PPRO, therefore, charged members of the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities to the local police, emphasizing that active participation is vital to the command’s collective effort in fighting against crime.

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News_Naija

Man Who Attempted Stealing Deity Statue Mentally Ill Police

The Ogun State Police Command has disclosed that Jeremiah Nwoke, the man accused of attempting to steal the crown of the Agemo deity statue in Ijebu Ode, is suspected to be suffering from mental illness. Nwoke was apprehended on Saturday, April 12, 2025, after allegedly damaging the Agemo statue located at Itoro Roundabout, along Folagbade Road in Ijebu Ode. The golden statue, which was reportedly commissioned over two decades ago, was allegedly found desecrated by residents early that morning. A viral video had shown a man in a blue top lying motionless not far away from the fallen statue of the deity, with unconfirmed reports stating that the suspect was dead. Reacting to the incident, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, clarified in a statement to PUNCH Metro on Sunday that contrary to circulating rumours, the suspect did not die. “A male adult, Jeremiah Nwoke, desecrated the revered Agemo Shrine by severing its crown, which has since been recovered and is in safe custody at Obalende Police Station,” Odutola stated. She explained that prompt police intervention at the scene prevented potential unrest among traditional worshippers who were outraged by the sacrilegious act. “Prompt response by the police at the scene calmed tension and prevented potential violent escalation by traditional worshippers,” she said. Odutola further revealed that the suspect is currently undergoing psychological evaluation. “Initial observations suggest signs of mental instability,” she added. Despite the incident, Odutola assured residents that the area remains peaceful. “Ijebu Ode remains calm. Members of the public are assured of their safety as the investigation into the incident continues,” she said.