(Nigeria Police. Photo by Daily Trust)
The Police have arrested one Mbalumen Ikyenge for allegedly setting @blaze the house of Aondoyima Ierkwagh, resulting in the d£ath of his two daughters in Zaki-Biam, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the state confirmed the incident to reporters in Makurdi on Tuesday, stating that the police had received a report from the father of the deceased girls alleging that someone had set his house on fire.
She noted that she could not confirm whether the act stemmed from a lovers’ quarrel, but that the report received from the father indicated that his house had been set ablaze.
According to her, the victims were aged four and six. She explained that neighbours had attempted to rescue the girls by rushing them to hospital, but they d!ed while receiving treatment, adding that she could not confirm whether the incident was connected to a relationship dispute.
The police spokesperson confirmed that the suspect had been arrested and that investigations were ongoing.
However, some witnesses alleged that the incident stemmed from a relationship dispute. According to accounts given anonymously, the suspect had visited her boyfriend’s residence on Sunday night but was asked to leave.
The witnesses claimed she refused to leave after suspecting that another woman was in the house with her boyfriend.
They further alleged that the man had locked his two daughters inside a separate round hut before retiring to another hut himself.
According to the witnesses, at about midnight, the suspect set the hut @blaze, believing another woman was inside, but the fire instead engulfed the structure where the two girls were sleeping.
Neighbours reportedly rescued the children and rushed them to hospital, where they later d!ed from severe burns.
The police spokesperson said the command was investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and urged members of the public to remain calm and allow the investigation to run its course.
