Culled from Sun News
In what might sound like a tale from a Hammer House
of Horror movie, a seven-month pregnant woman was recently burnt to death in
Umuekechi village, Umuekwunne community in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of
Imo State. It was learnt that she was doused with fuel and set ablaze by her
brother-in-law. Reason? The woman was said to have poured water on the man’s
dog.
Daily Sun gathered that at about mid-day on Wednesday
last week, Mrs. Uloma Njoku had served her three children their lunch and
continued with her laundry at the backyard. But while the children were eating
in the family’s compound, the dog of her brother-in-law, Chibueze, allegedly
strayed to where they were eating. The dog was said to have dipped its mouth
into their cup of water. One of the children then allegedly reported the
incident to her mother, Uloma. Continue after the cut...
Uloma was said to have poured the water on the dog
before throwing the cup away. Trouble started when Chibueze, who was said to be
inside his room at the time, saw what his brother’s wife had done to his dog.
According to eyewitnesses, he promptly came out to confront her, demanding to
know why she poured water on his dog just because the animal wanted to drink
water from a cup. That led to an exchange of abusive words between Uloma and
Chibueze. During the altercation, Daily Sun learnt that Chibueze had threatened
to deal with Uloma ruthlessly.
He reportedly left the compound while Uloma went to
the back of the compound to spread the clothes she had washed. But unknown to
the heavily pregnant woman, Chibueze had gone into his room. He came out with a
plastic bowl filled with petrol and made straight for Uloma, who was hanging
her washed clothes at the back of the compound. He immediately splashed the
fuel on her, set her ablaze and took to his heels. It was the cry of anguish
from Uloma that attracted their neighbours who tried to put out the fire. They
then rushed her to the community health centre.
Unfortunately, she died the following day as a
result of the severe burns she had suffered. One of the villagers told Daily
Sun that ever since the late Uloma was married into that family, she had never
been in good terms with Chibueze, adding that the death of Uloma should be
blamed on her husband, Emma Njoku. “This incident is nothing but the climax of
accumulated grievances by Chibueze. But he went too far this time and that is
why the youths had to hunt for him.
And immediately he was caught, he was handed over to
the police.” Daily Sun equally learnt that the youths of the village who could
no longer bear the atrocities of Chibueze had to fish him out from hiding and
hand him over to the police. Many members of the community said Chibueze Njoku
had, before the latest atrocity of setting his elder brother’s wife on fire,
been a terror in the village. One of the community members, a man, said the
people, including his family members, were afraid of him, as he had once
threatened to kill his elder brother and his children.
He said after the ugly incident, the youths in the
community decided to put an end to his nefarious activities. Meanwhile, it was
learnt that the relations of the deceased woman are already spoiling for war
with the Njoku family if they refuse to hand the culprit to them. The Police
Public Relations Officer in Imo State, Vitalis Onugu, a deputy superintendent
of police (DSP) confirmed that Chibueze was nabbed and is currently being held
at the State Criminal Investigation Department. The police spokesman said the
police authorities are still investigating the matter.
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