By Ovie Okpare
A middle-aged man has been reportedly set ablaze over N200 debt at Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.
WARRI TODAY exclusively learnt that the victim identified as Sunday Arigbe was set ablaze by two women.
It gathered that the incident took place at about 2am last Monday August 26, 2019, around the Jakpa Junction area of the city.
Sources told our reporter that the victim, who died as a result of severe burnt he suffered, was said to owing when of the women who reportedly poured fuel on his body while the second lady put fire on the deceased.
ALSO READ: FEATURE: Why N’Deltans, Governors Need Not Worry Over New NDDC Board
Our sources who witnessed the incident explained that Mr Arigbe owed the woman who turned fuel on him N200 but had refused to pay.
It was not clear the manner of transaction the deceased had with the first suspect (who poured fuel on Arigbe).
Trouble was said to have ensued between the duo when the woman, a black market dealer of petrol, demanded for her money which resulted in her pouring fuel on her debtor.
It was gathered that after Arigbe was poured fuel, the second woman simply identified as Faith, threw stick of maches at the deceased’s direction, and he was immediately gutted by fire.
He was said have died before they could rush him to hospital for treatment.
“Sunday Arigbe was owing the woman popular called Mama N200 balance for fuel he bought from the woman sometime ago. When she was drawing the money, they started exchanging words, and the woman poured petrol on his body.
“Another petty trader close to the Mama threw stick of matches on Sunday’s body which resulted in flames. All over his body was burnt and he died before they rushed him to hospital after sympathizers were able to put off the fire”, one of the witnesses told WARRI TODAY.
ALSO READ: Journalist Who Criticised Cross River’s Gov, Ayade Charged For Terrorism
However, policemen from Ekpan Police Division, have arrested the woman identified as Faith while the black market petrol vendor (Mama) has absconded.
It was gathered the police have repeated raided the Jakpa Junction in search of the fleeing woman.
A relative of the deceased who drew the attention of this reporter to the incident accused the police of attempt to sweep the matter under the carpet.
The deceased’s relation, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, while demanding justice for his slain brother, said the police are not doing enough to apprehend the second culprit.
When contacted on Sunday on the incident, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyinka Adeleke, confirmed the incident.
Adeleke, who said one of the suspects has been arrest, added that she would be charged to court.
Also similarly confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onowakpoyeya, said the lady who allegedly set the fire, Faith, was already in police custody.
Onowakpoyeya stated that matter would be transferred to the State Police Headquarters, Asaba, on Monday (2nd September, 2019) for diligent prosecution.
