A woman simply known as Lateefat has died after her violent estranged husband set her on fire in Otun Akute, Ogun state.
The estranged husband, known as Ponle, had been threatening Lateefah, also called Iya Ibadan, since they parted ways after she left him due to domestic violence and physical abuse.
Ponle had said she had no right to live alone and vowed that no other man would be with her.
The couple were married for three years and resided in Otun Akute, Ogun state, where the tragic incident happened. The marriage had no children.
Ponle was said to have gone to the residence of his ex-wife on Thursday and threatened to kill her if she did not return to his house.
“The man was fond of beating the woman to a stupor. Their fight is always a community matter. She has been hospitalised on many occasions until she decided to pack out of his house a month ago when she rented an apartment on the same street,” Peoples Gazette quoted one Adio, Lateefat’s neighbour as saying.
Ponle was said to have trailed the deceased after monitoring her movements to carry out his assault despite her avoiding him on many occasions.
“Ponle suddenly came back from work on Thursday evening and threatened to burn Iya Ibadan alive so no other man could have her.
“The woman ran away from her house on Friday night in fear of Ponle’s threat. He came to the house that night but she was not at home.
“When she returned on Saturday morning for a change of clothes, she also tried to observe her prayers only for Ponle to show up, poured petrol on her in the room and set her ablaze but Iya Ibadan also grabbed him and ensured they burned together until people intervened,” Adio added.
The late Iya Ibadan’s last child was also caught in the fire but was quickly rescued and is currently responding to treatment in the hospital.
Ponle has been arrested, with spokesperson for the Ogun police command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, assuring that the public will be updated in due course.