Mr. Onyiuke Nwedeogu set himself and his family home on fire following a minor disagreement with his wife in Ndiechi Igbeagu, located in the Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State.
Reports indicate that Mrs. Felicia Nwedeogu and their three daughters were inside the house when it was ignited by Mr. Nwedeogu.
Community sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the conflict began on Sunday morning when Onyiuke had a brief altercation with his wife, during which he physically assaulted her. Afterward, he packed all his clothes and took them to his provision shop.
The sources also mentioned that Onyiuke informed his parents, who live only a few kilometers away, about the incident, but he was unsatisfied with the mediation that followed.
Following the unsuccessful mediation, he rushed back home, forcibly removed the window guard where his wife and children were sleeping, and poured motor spirit inside before setting the house ablaze, fully aware his family was still inside.
Another witness stated that after the altercation, Onyiuke took his belongings to the provision store, locked it up, and later returned at night with a gallon of motor spirit, using it to ignite both himself and the house.
Felicia Nwedeogu and her three children were rescued through the same window from which the protector had been removed, just as the flames consumed the entire structure.
“The deceased was rushed to Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (AE-FETHA), where he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday,” the source confirmed.
The body of Mr. Nwedeogu has been taken to the AE-FETHA morgue.
When contacted for comment, police public relations officer (PPRO) DSP Joshua Ukandu stated that the command had not yet been informed about the incident, as it appeared the family had not reported it to the police. He assured that he would reach out to the divisional police officer (DPO) in Izzi for further details.
