Ogun Police Arrest 56-Year-Old Man Over Wife’s Death in Suspected Arson

By Adebola Muili

The Ogun State Police Command has taken a 56-year-old man, Madarikan Emehinola, into custody over the death of his 40-year-old wife, Igbagbo Erobe, in a suspected arson incident at Igbo-Edu Village in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state.

The incident has thrown residents of the community into mourning, following reports that the woman sustained fatal burns after an alleged domestic dispute with her husband.

The police confirmed the development in a statement issued on Sunday, October 18, by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, who said the incident was reported at the Abigi Divisional Police Headquarters after information was received that a house had been set ablaze, resulting in the woman’s death.

According to the statement, the deceased’s body had been deposited at a mortuary for post-mortem examination, while the case was being processed for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

Although the precise circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, accounts from the community indicated that an argument between the couple allegedly preceded the tragedy. The motive behind the suspected attack has yet to be established.

Neighbours reportedly heard cries for help

An earlier account of the incident indicated that neighbours heard desperate screams from the house but were unable to rescue the woman before she sustained fatal burns.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, described the incident as heartbreaking and called on the relevant authorities to ensure that justice was served.

“The entire community is still in disbelief. We heard desperate screams coming from the house, but before anyone could rush in to intervene, the victim was already severely burnt. It is a terrible tragedy,” the resident said.

The account has deepened concerns among residents, who are struggling to understand how the reported domestic disagreement could have ended in the loss of a life.

The incident has also attracted attention following the circulation of a video reportedly obtained by Newslife. The footage allegedly shows the woman’s husband unloading her corpse from a police-branded motorboat at a riverbank, while sympathisers gathered nearby to mourn the deceased.

However, the circumstances surrounding the movement of the body in the boat, as well as the sequence of events leading to the woman’s death, remain unclear.

The video does not, on its own, establish how the woman died or determine criminal responsibility.

Police begin investigation

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Bode Ojajuni, assured the public that the case would be investigated diligently and professionally in accordance with the law.

According to the statement, Ojajuni reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, adding that allegations of serious crimes would receive appropriate investigative attention.

The command also urged members of the public to report suspicious activities promptly and provide credible information that could assist crime prevention and ongoing investigations.

The post-mortem examination and further police investigation are expected to help establish the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.

While the community continues to mourn the deceased, the police investigation is expected to clarify the events that led to the suspected arson and determine whether the suspect bears criminal responsibility.

The suspect’s alleged involvement remains subject to investigation and due process.