The police in Benue arrested Mbalumen Ikyenge for setting her boyfriend, Aondoyima Ierkwagh, ablaze, which led to the death of his two daughters in Zaki-Biam, Ukum LGA.

The spokeswoman for the command, Udeme Edet, confirmed the incident in Makurdi on Tuesday.

Ms Edet said the command received a report from the father of the deceased girls alleging that a person set his house on fire.

“I don’t really know if it was a lovers’ quarrel that resulted in the act, but the report we got from the father of the girls was that someone set his house on fire,” Ms Edet said.

She said the victims were aged four and six years old.

“Neighbours tried to rescue the girls by rushing them to the hospital, but they died while receiving treatment. So, I can’t say whether it was a lovers’ quarrel,” Ms Edet added.

The police spokesperson said the suspect, Ms Ikyenge, had been arrested and that an investigation was ongoing. However, witnesses alleged the arson stemmed from a relationship dispute.

They said the suspect visited Mr Ierkwagh’s residence on Sunday night and was asked to leave, but she refused, suspecting another woman was with her boyfriend in the house.

The witnesses further claimed that Mr Ierkwagh had locked his two daughters in a separate round hut before retiring to another hut.

According to the witnesses, at about midnight, the suspect set the hut ablaze, believing another woman was inside, but the fire engulfed the structure where the two girls were sleeping.

Neighbours were said to have rescued the children and rushed them to the hospital, where they later died from severe burns.

Ms Edet said the command was investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident to establish the motive.

She urged the public to remain calm and allow the investigation to run its course.

(NAN)