By Ola Taiwo
Police in Kogi State have arrested a man who allegedly set his wife on fire in the state.
The suspect, Jacob Irewa, was said to have commited the act after a domestic dispute he had with the wife, Berida Irawo.
A statement by the spokesperson of the state police command, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, said that the B Division Surveillance Team in Felele arrested the man after receiving a report of the incident at about 8:30 p.m.
The statement said preliminary investigation showed that the incident followed a disagreement after the victim reportedly burnt some of the suspect’s clothes which she believed he was no longer using, without his consent.
It said the suspect reportedly became angry, and that after threatening his wife, fetched petrol from his motorcycle and allegedly used it to set her ablaze.
The victim, however, survived the attack and she is currently receiving treatment at a medical centre in the town.
The statement said Irewa, during interrogation, admitted setting his wife on fire.
It disclosed that investigators have commenced a comprehensive probe to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and gather additional evidence.
The state Commissioner of Police, Naziru Bello Kankarofi, according to the statement, condemned the alleged attack and reiterated the command’s zero tolerance for violence, particularly domestic violence.
The police boss urged residents to resolve domestic disagreements through lawful means, warning against actions capable of putting lives at risk.
The police said the suspect would be charged to court for prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.
