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THURSDAY , NOVEMBER 3 , 2016 ... City , Crime , Courts 08185225745 , 08055126196
Suspect arrested for
• The letter
Adelani Adepegba , Abuja
A
driver , Jacob Elegbede , who attempted to hang himself behind a primary school in Zanda , a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory , Abuja , has blamed spiritual forces , saying he did not know what came over him .
The 48-year old father of one stated that he was not himself when he climbed a tree in an attempt to commit suicide in a nearby bush , noting that he simply found himself on the tree along with the rope he wanted to use to kill himself .
Elegbede , who worked with a construction company in Abuja , twice attempted to hang himself on Saturday and Sunday , prompting his neighbours to alert policemen , who arrested him .
Before the suicide attempt , he had written a note in which took responsibility for the planned crime and also asked for forgiveness from his family and neighbours .
Elegbede , who hails from Badagry , Lagos , also listed the names of his creditors whom he owed various amounts , craving their forgiveness .
The suspect , in an interview with PUNCH Metro at the FCT Police Command , Abuja , on Wednesday , explained that his problem began about 18 months ago , when he started suffering from insomnia .
He said his situation got worse when he started having strange dreams and suffering from hot flashes in his head and chest .
He said , “ I also started having strange dreams in which I find myself having intercourse with strange women and even animals .
“ I worship at the Mountain of Fire and Miracle church
Photo : Adelani Adepegba
My problem is spiritual – Driver arrested for failed suicide
in Abuja , but I couldn ’ t go for prayers or deliverance because I work from Monday to Sunday and there was no time for any other thing . I believe my problem is spiritual because I can ’ t even explain how I found myself on the tree with a rope to hang myself .”
Asked about the suicide note that was recovered by the police , Elegbede , stated that he could not remember writing the said letter because he had no pen or paper in his room .
“ I strongly believe some spiritual forces were behind my problem because while I was in the cell last Saturday , I had a wet dream in which a dog was licking my private parts ,” he said .
The FCT Commissioner of Police , Muhammed Mustafa , said the suspect would be arraigned in court after investigation , adding that attempted suicide was a criminal offence .
Armstrong Bakam , Bauchi
Operatives of the Nigerian Army , 33 Artillery Brigade , Bauchi State , have killed two suspected kidnappers during an exchange of fire at Rafin Gigi village , in the Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state .
It was gathered that the operatives also rescued a 16-year-old boy , Muhammad Musa , who was abducted from his house on Friday .
While presenting the rescued boy to journalists at the Brigade headquarters in Bauchi on Wednesday , the Platoon Commander , Alkaleri LGA , Captain Harrison Chiagozie , said the incident occurred on
Afeez Hanafi
One Lucky Okeke , a suspect held for breach of the peace and assault , has allegedly beaten up two policemen who arrested him .
The policemen were identified as corporals Abubakar Hussaini and Yusuf Olaitan .
Okeke had earlier assaulted a resident of Assemblies of God Church Street , Badore , in the Ajah area of Lagos State , Funmi Dayafin , before beating up the policemen .
While Okeke reportedly punched Olaitan in the head , he rained blows on Hussaini ’ s mouth until blood gushed out .
PUNCH Metro learnt that the cops were part of a police team from the Lamgbasa division that went to the neighbourhood on Monday after receiving complaints from Dayafin that Okeke , his friend , Kelvin Osayande , and others at large operated a smoking joint in the house she also lived in .
Osayande , who has also been arrested , and the complainant are neighbours while Okeke lives nearby .
Our correspondent learnt that two policemen had initially arrested Okeke on that day , but he became violent and beat up the
Olaleye Aluko
A
man in his 30s , John Paul , has hanged himself in a hotel in the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State , where he paid to lodge for a day .
Saturday .
Chiagozie , who led the operation , informed journalists that N770,000 was recovered from the kidnappers .
He said the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N1.650m from the family of the boy , adding that the family raised the N770,000 .
“ We got a report of the kidnap of the boy , Muhammad Musa , on Saturday and immediately , we swung into action .
“ It was 10pm when we got to the bush , and as soon as the family exchanged the N770,000 they had with them for their son , our men confronted the kidnappers . An exchange of fire ensued between us and the kidnappers and we killed two of them , while the others woman for reporting him to the police .
The policemen were said to have called for reinforcement and he was subsequently arrested .
• Tinubu Magistrate ’ s Court
PUNCH Metro learnt that Paul , who was married with children , was discovered dangling from a rope in his room at Ascort Hotel by one
Soldiers kill two kidnappers , rescue 16-year-old in Bauchi
escaped . There was no casualty on our side .
“ They used torches to know where we were because it was very dark . Our aim was to rescue the boy alive ,” Chiagozie said .
The platoon commander said the operation was successful because of the teamwork between the Nigerian Army and a vigilance group in the area .
A relative of the rescued boy , Ali Umar , said the kidnappers left a letter after abducting the boy , telling them to call the phone number .
He said , “ I have been the one speaking with the kidnappers . They demanded N1.650m from the family before the boy would be released to us , but we raised N770,000 .” two Lagos
“ As he was being taken to the station in a police van , he descended on two of the policemen with fist blows .
“ The officers had to persuade him before they got him arrested ,” a police source said .
Family man hangs
of the hotel workers .
Our correspondent gathered that the matter was brought to the attention of the hotel manager , identified only as Ayedapa , who reported the matter at the FESTAC Town Police Division .
A police source told our correspondent that Paul , who did not inform his family members that he was checking into a hotel , was believed to have committed suicide as a result of financial challenges .
He said , “ Paul checked into the hotel on Monday , October 24 , and he was supposed to spend 24 hours . On the following day , the deceased was supposed to check out by 12pm .
“ When the hotel workers did not see him , they went to his room and discovered through the window that he had hanged himself with a rope .
“ The manager , Mr . Ayedapa , came to report the matter at the police station . Policemen went there
File photo
and took photographs and removed the corpse .
“ On the same day , the family members , led by Paul ’ s wife , Ugochukwu , who were not aware that he lodged into any hotel , came to the station to report a case of a missing person . That was how they discovered that he had committed suicide in a hotel .
“ The police suspect that the man was depressed . But many details cannot be divulged at the moment .”
Another source said , “ The man ’ s relations identified his corpse , and it was deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary for an autopsy .”
Our correspondent learnt that officials of the Lagos State Emergency Service also came to the area to assist in the removal of the corpse .
When our correspondent got to the hotel on Wednesday , a receptionist , who identified himself only as Ighodalo , said the manager , Ayedapa , was unavailable for comment .
He said , “ The manager is