Bar Manager Sets Attendant Ablaze For Stealing N1, 500

           

The Ogun State Police Command is presently
searching for a bar manager, Mr. Bidemi Shittu,
who allegedly poured petrol on his 13-year-old
attendant, Ezekiel Emmanuel, and set him
ablaze. It was gathered that the manager took the
action because the teenager reportedly stole
N1,500 from him.


 Punch metro gathered that the runaway
suspect, Bidemi, who is married with children,
was the manager of Golden Fingers Bar in the
area, while Emmanuel was one of his attendants.
Our correspondent learnt that Bidemi, who had
accused Emmanuel of theft on Sunday, allegedly
tied the teenager’s hands and feet in a room in
his bar till Monday, waiting for him to admit the
offence.

It was gathered that on Monday, at about
11.30pm, Bidemi brought Emmanuel out to the
front of the bar, poured petrol on the boy and set
fire on him.

Our correspondent learnt that some residents,
who were out at the time, rescued the victim.
They were said to have rushed Emmanuel to a
private hospital in the area where he was initially
treated before he was referred to the Lagos
State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos,
the following day.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the matter was reported
to the Ibafo Police Division, and the policemen
sealed off the bar.

However, it was gathered that the suspect,
Bidemi, fled before he could be arrested.
When our correspondent got to the area on
Thursday, Emmanuel’s uncle, Mr. Toyin Olayemi,
said the boy was rejected by four different
hospitals before he was eventually taken to
LASUTH.

He said, “Emmanuel’s father is not around. He
went to his hometown in Ekiti because he fell ill.
On Tuesday morning when they told me about
Emmanuel. I rushed to the private hospital and I
saw him on the bed, severely burnt from head to
abdomen.

“He was working on part-time basis in the bar,
although Bidemi did not pay him any salary.
Emmanuel is also learning generator repair at a
workshop. I was told that the manager accused
him of stealing N1,500.
“Despite pleas from neighbours that they would
repay him, he waited till everyone had gone to
sleep and brought out the boy and burnt his
body.

“The private hospital asked us to take him away
the following day. We went to about four
government hospitals which rejected him before
we came to LASUTH.

“Since that Tuesday, they have not allowed us to
see him. They said he was still under
observation. The suspect too has run away. We
learnt that a policeman in the Ibafo division
tipped Bidemi off to evade arrest.”
When our correspondent visited the suspect’s
father, Pa Shittu, he told PUNCH Metro that the
most important thing was for the victim to get
well.

He said, “My wife went to check the boy in the
hospital. The doctors did not allow her to see
him, but they told her that he was responding to
treatment. I have spent about N150,000 on his
treatment.

“I have not seen Bidemi. I don’t know his
whereabouts. He has refused to pick my calls.
The most important thing is for the child to get
well.”

When our correspondent got to the private
hospital in Ibafo where Emmanuel was initially
treated, the doctor said he ensured that he was
in a stable condition before he was transferred.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Muyiwa
Adejobi, confirmed the incident.
He added that the police were intensifying efforts
to arrest the suspect.
He said, “The suspect poured petrol on the boy
for stealing.

He maltreated him, tied his hands and feet, and
set him on fire. The boy is still in the hospital
and the suspect is presently at large.
“But the police will arrest the suspect.
“This act is not only criminal, but also barbaric.
We are intensifying efforts to get him and we
will.”