Man Sets Self, Family House Ablaze After Argument with Wife

A man in his early thirties, identified as Onyiuke Nwedeogu, allegedly set himself and his family home on fire following a domestic altercation with his wife in the early hours of Sunday. The incident occurred in Ndiechi Igbeagu, located in the Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

According to eyewitness reports, the conflict began when Onyiuke had a minor argument with his wife, Mrs. Felicia Nwedeogu, which escalated when he physically assaulted her. In the aftermath of the argument, Onyiuke reportedly gathered his clothes and placed them in the family’s provision shop. He then sought mediation from his parents, who reside a few kilometers away, but was reportedly dissatisfied with their intervention.

In a fit of rage, Onyiuke returned home, forcibly removed the window protector of the house where his wife and three children were sleeping, and set the building on fire using motor spirit. This occurred in the dead of night, while his family remained unaware of the impending danger.

As the fire spread rapidly, Mrs. Felicia Nwedeogu and her children managed to escape through the same window that Onyiuke had removed the protector from, with nothing more than a wrapper and children’s pants.

After setting the fire, Onyiuke drove away in his bus. However, he was later found and rushed to the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (AE-FETHA) by a man identified as Elijah. Unfortunately, Onyiuke succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday. His body has since been deposited at the hospital’s morgue.

While the tragic incident has left the family devastated, local authorities have yet to confirm the details. Ebonyi Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu, stated that the police had not received a report at the time of this publication.