The Kogi State Police Command has arrested one Jacob Irewa of Oworo Estate, Felele, Lokoja for allegedly pouring petrol on his wife, one Berida Irawo and setting her ablaze following a reported domestic disagreement.
According to reports by Daily Trust, the confrontation was said to have erupted on Friday afternoon at their apartment over the missing short sleeve shirts of the spouse.
The trouble was reported to have started when the spouse saw that his “much treasured” short-sleeved shirts were missing from the room.
“I came from outside, took my bath and wanted to put on any of my favourite short-sleeve shirts, seven in total; I did not spot any of them in the room. I searched everywhere, including the back of the building where we used to hang clothing on a hook.
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Asked my wife about it in the room and she told me she had burnt them following rising pressure on her and rushed outside. ‘Why?’ I asked her.
“I was very angry and frustrated, so I went to where I parked my motorbike and got petrol from it, poured it on her and set her alight with matches. “I don’t know how it happened, God have mercy on me,” he remarked.
The suspect, who claimed to be an ordained pastor and a teacher in Irawo village on holiday in Lokoja, said he had never fought his wife over anything.
He said he had been married for years but had no child.
However, the suspect has been arrested by the Kogi State Police Command in connection with an attempted culpable homicide involving his wife, Berida Irawo.
Police stated they received a report of the incident on Friday, 14th August 2026 at about 2030 hours.
The Police command’s spokeswoman, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, said: “Preliminary investigation showed the incident was a fallout of a domestic disagreement after the victim burnt some of the suspect’s clothes which she believed he was no longer using without his permission.
“The suspect then threatened her, took petrol from his motorbike and set her alight.
“The victim was rescued from the attack and is now being attended to at Honey Gold Hospital, Felele.
’“In his statement to the police, the suspect admitted he set his wife on fire. “The Command has launched a full investigation to establish the circumstances of the incident and to gather further evidence.”
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