TRAGEDY: Landlord Sets 6 Youths Ablaze Over Indian Hemp (PHOTO)

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a
middle-aged man, Mukaila Adebesin, for allegedly
setting ablaze six people in Ita Balogun Compund,
Ago-Oko, Abeokuta.

It was gathered that the victims were allegedly set
ablaze by Adebesin at 7pm because they were
gambling and smoking Indian hemp on his
premises. The victims are:
Adesanya, 20, Sulaiman Adebesin, 20, Saburi
Seteolu 18, Raheem Bello 19, Azeez Alabi 20,
and Kola Sodeinde 19.
A witness who pleaded anonymity told Punch that
Adebesin, a commercial bus driver, had just
returned from an outing when he saw the six
youths in his compound.

He said, “Their activities made the driver engage
them in an argument. As the talks became heated,
Adebesin reached for a can of petrol which he
emptied on them. The victims attempted to flee
when it dawned on them that the liquid poured on
them was petrol.
“But they caught fire from a stick of the Indian
hemp being smoked by one of them. They suffered
high degree burns due to the incident.”

Adebesin, who is currently being detained at Oke-
Itoku Police Station, was said to have turned
himself in to the police immediately after the
incident.

Other youths in the area, on learning of the
development, stormed Adebesin’s compound, and
vandalised his apartment and injured his wife who
is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed
hospital.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa
Adejobi, said that investigations had already
commenced into the matter. “Adebesin might be
charged to court after the conclusion of
investigations. He said four of the youths had been
admitted at the General Hospital, Ijaiye, while two
others were taken to a private clinic for treatment.

“Information available to us is that the suspect had
an argument with the youths before he poured
PMS on them. For now, we cannot ascertain other
circumstances that led to the incident but we have
the suspect in our custody.”

The police has warned youths in the area not to
engage in any reprisals, or risk arrest.