A middle-aged man, identified as Nwana, has reportedly set his wife, Chioma Nwana, ablaze following a heated altercation over suspected infidelity at Eziezekwe village, Abagana, in the Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, escalated after the suspect accused his wife of having an affair. Chioma, who sustained severe burns, was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday morning.
Sources in the community disclosed that Nwana confronted his wife when she returned home after an alleged outing with another man.
The argument spiraled out of control, leading him to douse her with petrol and set her on fire.
A resident of the area, who preferred anonymity, narrated, “The woman returned home on Tuesday evening, and her husband accused her of infidelity. During the confrontation, he poured petrol on her and set her ablaze. She was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately passed away this morning.”
The source added that the couple, who had six children, had been living together in the village before the incident.
Following the act, the suspect reportedly presented himself at the Abagana Divisional Police Station, confessing to the crime.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect is currently in custody.
Ikenga stated, “The suspect is in police custody. Unfortunately, the victim died this morning. The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Itam, has ordered the transfer of the case to the Homicide Unit for a thorough investigation.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state, Ify Obinabo, on Wednesday, visited the scene of the alleged crime to see to the welfare of the couple’s five children.
Some of the relatives of the deceased Chioma, narrated how her husband, Nwana had attacked and assaulted her with broken bottles and machete before eventually setting her ablaze weeks after.
They explained how they had advised their late sister to leave the violent marriage but she insisted on staying because of her children.
However, the suspect, while being interrogated by the women commissioner, claimed he didn’t mean to kill his wife but that a spirit overwhelmed him and pushed him into commiting the arson.
Nwana accused her wife of going out without telling him her destination and ended up returning home between 11:00pm and 12:00am.
When asked if that was enough reason to set her on fire, he responded, “It was out of temper, I didn’t mean to do it, a spirit came over me.”
The Point gathered that the late woman had five sons with Nwana, and that before he was married to Chioma, he had two children with another woman he separated from.
He claimed that the first wife was too troublesome and that he had to leave.
