From Church To Crime: Man Leaves Church To Set Wife Ablaze In Edo

BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON

A 55-year-old man, Osaro Ahunwan arrested for attempting to burn his estranged wife alive by allegedly setting her apartment ablaze at midnight has confessed to the police that he committed the evil act immediately he left the church in the early hours of January 1, 2025 in Benin City, Edo State of Nigeria.

It was learnt that the suspect, armed with a keg of petrol had allegedly invaded the private residence of his estranged wife Tina Uyi at 7, Henry-Asemota Street, Idumwonwina Quarters, Benin City and set the building ablaze after the woman refused to open the door for him about 12:30a.m.

“She is my wife, when I close from church I went there, I was holding a gallon of petrol I bought. I was knocking come and opened the door for me she refused.

“I left since January 2023, we were talking automatically she blocked me. I went to her house after 12 in the night

“We’ve been married for over three years. I work in Lagos, she went to my senior brother’s house, she knocked before my brother could come out she threw the money on the veranda and she left. That’s how she said she returned the bride price”, Mr. Ahunwan told the police.

However, Tina Uyi said to have returned from Italy on December 31, 2024 is now hospitalized having escaped being burnt alive inside the apartment as the blaze allegedly consumed local and foreign currencies as well as valuable property in her custody.

It was gathered that the Italy-based businesswoman opted out of the marriage in 2023 when the suspect Osaro Ahunwan allegedly became unduly suspicious, abusive and violent.

According to a release signed by the spokesman for Edo police Command CSP Moses Joel Yamu the police responded to a distress call and apprehended one Osaro Ahunwan.

“On 01/01/2025, the Command received a distress call from one Osariten Terecy ‘f’ that at about 0130am of same date, her sister Uyi Tina was asleep in her residence at Asemota Street, Idunowinna Quarters, Benin City, her estranged husband one Osaro Ahuwa went to her house, with a keg of fuel and set the house ablaze.

“Fortunately, the woman escaped but with burnts while the house with everything inside and £4,000 was completely razed to the ground. Her Lexus RX 330 was also destroyed.

“The estranged husband with one other accomplice have been arrested and are currently in custody. Investigation is ongoing”, the statement said.