A 13-year-old bar attendant, Ezekiel Emmanuel, who was allegedly set ablaze by his boss for stealing N1,500 in the Ibafo area of Ogun State, has died in the hospital.
We gathered Emmanuel, was rescued from the fire by residents and rushed to a private hospital in the area, from where he was referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital the following day.
It was also reported that Shittu, who is manager of Golden Fingers bar, Akoka, Ibafo, had gone into hiding after the incident.
Our correspondent, however, learnt that Emmanuel died in LASUTH Sunday morning.
Speaking with newsmen, Emmanuel’s uncle, Mr. Toyin Olayemi, said the family members, who had not been allowed to see the boy in the hospital, were told by the police on Sunday that Emmanuel had died.
He said, “The Ibafo Divisional Police Officer called me on the phone on Sunday that the family should come to the station. It was there that we were told the shocking news of Emmanuel’s demise. He died on Sunday morning. He did not survive the burns.
“On Saturday, his father and I were at the hospital. The doctors and nurses initially prevented us from seeing him, but when the father wanted to make trouble, they let him in for a few minutes.
“Emmanuel’s condition was critical. He was burned from the head to the abdomen. Unfortunately, the suspect’s father, Pa Shittu, whose wife was with Emmanuel in the hospital, lied to us that our son’s condition was improving, but it was not.”
Our correspondent learnt that youths in the area who heard of the boy’s demise, went on rampage and threatened to raze the bar but were prevented by policemen from the Ibafo Police Division.
It was gathered that the police, who earlier sealed off the bar, had also locked up a hotel beside it which belonged to the suspect’s father.
Our correspondent gathered that the teenager’s corpse had been deposited at the LASUTH morgue.
Meanwhile, police sources in Ibafo told our correspondent that the police were still making efforts to locate Bidemi’s whereabouts and arrest him.
Spokesman for the state police command, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the death of the attendant.