The young man who was set ablaze by his 18-year-old girlfriend now identified as Esther Alex, in Wadata suburb of Makurdi in Benue State, has died.
It was gathered that Esther carried out the dastardly act at 2:00am on Monday, January 11, when the victim, Chidinma Ikechukwu Omah, a patent medicine dealer, was fast asleep in his one-room apartment.
She allegedly poured petrol on him and set him ablaze.
He reportedly died at Makurdi Federal Medical Centre about 10:00pm on Monday night, January 11, from high degree burns.
An eyewitness who gave an account of the incident said,
“The loud scream from the victim attracted the attention of neighbours who rushed to help him but he had already suffered much burns. The neighbours immediately rushed him to the nearby Makurdi Federal Medical Centre, FMC, where he was admitted for treatment.”
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent, DSP, Catherine Anene who confirmed the incident said the 18-year-old poured petrol round the victim’s one-room apartment before setting it on fire.
“We don’t know yet why she did that. We are yet to question her but I can confirm that she has been arrested and just brought to our custody.” she added.
Meanwhile, the body of the victim was evacuated from the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi for burial by his family.
