A tragic incident unfolded in Ebonyi State, where a man, identified as Mr. Onyiuke Nwedeogu, allegedly set himself and his family home on fire after a heated argument with his wife on Sunday morning.
The incident occurred in Ndiechi Igbeagu, Izzi Local Government Area. While Nwedeogu’s wife, Mrs. Felicia Nwedeogu, and their three daughters managed to escape, the family was left traumatized by the shocking turn of events.
According to an eyewitness who spoke anonymously, the altercation between Nwedeogu and his wife escalated early on Sunday, leading to physical violence.
Nwedeogu reportedly gathered some of his clothes and left them in the family’s provision shop before heading to his parents’ house, hoping for mediation.
Displeased with the outcome of the visit, he returned home in the early hours, pried open a window, and used a can of motor spirit (petrol) to set the house on fire while his family was asleep.
“It was a horrifying scene,” a witness recalled. “He doused the house with fuel and set it ablaze with everyone inside.” Fortunately, Mrs. Nwedeogu and her children were able to escape through the same window he had forced open.
After starting the fire, Nwedeogu fled the scene in his bus.
He was later found and transported by a man named Elijah to Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (AE-FETHA).
Sadly, Nwedeogu succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Wednesday.
The family was left with almost nothing, rescued with only the clothes they had on—Mrs. Nwedeogu in a wrapper and her children in minimal clothing.
Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu, stated that the incident has not yet been formally reported to the police command.
Nwedeogu’s body has been taken to the morgue at AE-FETHA as investigations are expected to follow.