SAD:- Bar Man Sets His 13-Year Old Attendant On Fire For Allegedly Stealing N1500

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 learnt that the incident
happened in the Akoka area of Ibafo, Ogun
State, on Monday, February 9.
Our correspondent 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.”