A middle-aged woman has been arrested for allegedly setting ablaze a policewoman and her two children in Nnokwa, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The suspect, identified as Nneamaka Nwosu, a native of Amawbia in Awka South Local Government Area of the state was said to have come in contact with the deceased after she was rendered homeless following her seperation from the husband.
A resident of the area who prefered anonymity said the suspect had gone to live with the deceased shortly after she became homeless and in dire need of accommodation.
“As soon as the husband divorced her, she confided in the policewoman who benevolently offered her accommodation in her apartment.
“On that fateful day, she had a sharp disagreement with the policewoman which led to a fight during which she hit the policewoman on the head with pestle and she fell and became unconscious.
“She quickly tied the policewoman and her children together with rope inside their room and set them ablaze together with the building,” he said.
Daily Vendor gathered that the suspect was apprehended by local vigilante and some villagers who were attracted by the fire, while she was trying to escape.
The suspect during interrogation, had initially denied the action, claiming it was a case of gas explosion while the deceased and her children were boiling water.
She, however, later confessed to the crime, attributing it to handiwork of the devil.
“I didn’t know what came over me that made me commit the crime. I deserve to be shot dead for this wicked act against the person who helped me in my time of need,” she sobbed.
When contacted, Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident and arrest, saying bodies of the policewoman and her children have been deposited to the mortuary.
He added that the case had been transferred to the State Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation and prosecution.
He said, “Preliminary information reveals that the woman police accommodated the suspect while she was searching for a house. The two women had a disagreement which resulted in a fight before the suspect hit the woman police on her head with pestle.
“While she became unconscious, she tied her with her two kids and set them ablaze. The bodies of the victims have been recovered and deposited in the morgue. Further development shall be communicated.”