Wife grabs husband who set her ablaze, both die

One Mr Ponle Adebanjo and his estranged wife, Lateefat have died after the man set her ablaze over domestic violence.

The man himself could not escape the raging fire as his burning wife grabbed him ensuring the fire consumed the both of them

The incident, which happened on Saturday in the Otun-Akute area of Ogun State, was confirmed in a statement, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said, “The suspect was arrested on Saturday after concerned neighbours reported the incident to the police at the Otun-Akute division.

“The estranged husband, Ponle, was reported to have told many people in the area that his wife had no right to live alone and vowed that no other man would be with her after she left him due to physical abuse.

“The couple was married for three years and resided in Otun-Akute, until the woman, Lateefat, decided to leave him when she could no longer cope with the abuse.

“Mr Ponle was said to have gone to the residence of his ex-wife and threatened to kill her if she did not return to his house.

“Their neighbours explained that the man was fond of beating the woman, at times almost to the point of death. Their fights were said to have become a community matter as the woman was 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.”

According to the police spokesperson, the suspect stalked Lateefat, who avoided him several times. He reportedly went to her house last Thursday and threatened to burn her alive, as she fled.

“Mr Ponle went back to the victim’s house on Saturday night and met her praying. He poured petrol on her in the room and set her ablaze, but the woman managed to grab him to ensure they burned together until people intervened. They were rushed to a nearby hospital where the woman was confirmed dead,” Oyeyemi added.

The PPRO said the suspect was later handed over to the police.

The police spokesperson, when contacted by PUNCH for an update, said the man was also dead. While the victim died on Saturday, the suspect died on Sunday.