Tears as Lt. Samson Haruna allegedly killed by wife laid to rest

Grief overwhelmed family members, friends and colleagues on Saturday as the remains of Lt. (Dr) Samson Haruna, the young military officer allegedly set ablaze by his wife, Retyit Dalong Haruna, were committed to earth in his hometown in Pushit, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The 31-year-old officer received full military honours at the solemn burial, which drew a large crowd of sympathisers still struggling to come to terms with the circumstances of his death.

Lt. Haruna reportedly sustained fatal burns after a domestic dispute with his wife at Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

He later died from complications weeks after the incident.

At the time of his death, he was serving as a medical doctor and Regimental Medical Officer with the 6 Battalion, barely five months into his marriage.

Reports indicated that the argument between the couple escalated, leading to the wife allegedly dousing him with petrol and setting him on fire.

A military source in the barracks told our correspondent that the officer was initially stabilised at the Military Reference Section before being transferred to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, where medical efforts to save him proved unsuccessful.

Though relatives of the wife have attempted to absolve her of wrongdoing, insisting she had been released, military insiders maintain she remains the prime suspect in the case.

Another officer serving in the same formation disclosed that Retyit had been handed over to the police for further investigation and would be arraigned once the process is concluded.