…suspect in custody, investigation ongoing – Police
From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
A horrifying act of jealousy has left a community in shock after two teenage sisters were deliberately burnt to death in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
The prime suspect, a woman identified as Mbayegh, allegedly set fire to the girls’ room after being rejected by their father.
The tragedy unfolded on Monday night at the residence of Aondoyima Ierkwagh in the Kaffe area of Zaki-Biam.
According to local sources, Mbayegh arrived at Ierkwagh’s home intending to spend the night but was turned away.
Suspecting that her lover was rejecting her to accommodate another woman, she refused to leave.
Seeking to avoid a further escalation, Ierkwagh reportedly locked his two daughters safely in their hut before retiring to another room with a different companion.
Driven by rage and suspicion, Mbayegh allegedly sneaked back to the compound around midnight and set the daughters’ hut ablaze while they were deeply asleep.
The consequences were devastating, one of the teenage girls was burnt beyond recognition inside the room.
Also, her sister was rescued by alerted neighbors and rushed to a nearby hospital, but tragically succumbed to her severe injuries shortly after.
At the time of the horrific incident, the girls’ biological mother was away in Taraba State for seasonal farming activities.
The suspect, an indigene of Buruku Local Government Area, has been arrested and is currently undergoing interrogation.
While local accounts firmly point to a romantic dispute as the motive, the Benue State Police Command is maintaining a cautious stance regarding the killer’s exact intentions.
“The report we got from the father of the girls was that a person set his house on fire.
“Neighbours tried to rescue the girls and rushed them to the hospital.
“Tragically, they died while receiving treatment. I cannot definitively say yet whether it was a lovers’ quarrel,” said Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet.
DSP Edet confirmed that a suspect is in custody and a full investigation is actively ongoing to bring justice to the grieving family.
