A 47-year-old vulcaniser, Saheed Ganiyu, has been arrested for allegedly setting his lover ablaze in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The victim is currently fighting for her life at the National Hospital, where she was rushed after the incident, which occurred at Jabi Motor Park, Abuja, on December 29 of last year.
The suspect reportedly poured petrol over his lover, identified as Esther, 32, before igniting her during an argument.
He is in custody at the Utako Division of the FCT police command regarding the incident.
Ganiyu, a divorcee with three children from a previous marriage, is said to have been rescued by police from a mob that attempted to lynch him at the scene.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, stated that Ganiyu would be arraigned in court following the investigation.
While both individuals were taken to the hospital, Ganiyu has since been discharged to face trial as police intensify their inquiries into the matter.
Witnesses reported that the couple was embroiled in a heated argument, pulling at each other, when the suspect doused her with petrol from a bottle and set her alight with a lighter.
In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Ganiyu, originally from Ibadan, Oyo State, denied that the act was intentional and pleaded to be allowed to marry her.
Describing the event, he said: “On Sunday, December 29, she told me she was going to church, so I gave her N200 for her offering and N2,500 for food upon her return. I expected her to come back after church and waited at my stand, but when she didn’t return, I remembered that before that day, she had asked me for clothes and shoes for the New Year. I combined my earnings and bought her N30,000 worth of clothes.
“At around 6:00 pm, while leaving for night work, I spotted her at a local gin (ogogoro) spot, drinking contrary to her promise to change her ways. Despite my attempts to persuade her to leave, I eventually went to my shop.
“I later called her to ask for her help in buying half a litre of petrol for my work, but she refused, so I went alone. On my way back, I saw her with another bottle of alcohol. As I approached and tried to grab it from her, we ended up in a confrontation. Unbeknownst to me, the cap of the bottle I had under my arm had come off, spilling petrol on her.
“Afterwards, I went to buy a cigarette, and as I was smoking the first one, Esther came and removed it from my mouth. While she tried to prevent me from lighting the second one, I heard a loud noise and saw her engulfed in flames. I had no idea the petrol had soaked her clothes,” he added.
Reflecting on their relationship, Ganiyu said he moved to Abuja in 2008 and began dating Esther in February 2024.
“Esther is my girlfriend; I love her dearly despite her deformity. She used to help me considerably, coming to my business every morning to clean and set up my vulcanising machine. I did not deliberately pour petrol or set her on fire.
“Since her hospitalisation, I have been distraught, both from the shock and the beating I received. I feel my life has been shattered.
“I ask for permission to visit her. Though I am a Muslim, I am ready to marry her,” he stated.
Esther’s uncle, Mr Modaki Kofur, a retired Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Army, explained that her deformity arose from a fall during a Nigerian Navy recruitment training approximately 12 years ago, which resulted in a broken hip bone.
“She left my house over two years ago, and I believed she was in Enugu State for work.
“When I learned about the incident, I visited her at the hospital this month and found her in a dreadful condition,” he said.
He added, “Our current challenge is securing funds for her care. We have incurred significant expenses since the incident, and the hospital has informed us she may need to stay for two months.
“That is why we have been urging the man responsible for this to contribute more money, but he has not been forthcoming.”
