A 32-year-old man, Onyiuke Nwedeogu, has died after setting himself and his house ablaze in a tragic sequence of events following a domestic dispute with his wife, Felicia Nwedeogu, in Ndiechi Igbeagu, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning after an altercation during which Onyiuke reportedly assaulted his wife. According to sources, long-standing disagreements between the couple had led to several unsuccessful family interventions.
After the quarrel, Onyiuke gathered his clothing and proceeded to the family’s provision shop, where he set it ablaze along with himself. Despite being rushed to the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (AE-FETHA), he succumbed to fire-related injuries on Wednesday.
Before the self-immolation, Onyiuke reportedly removed the window protectors of their home, poured fuel, and set the house on fire while his wife and their three daughters were inside. Fortunately, neighbors intervened quickly and rescued the family before the flames could cause harm.
Believing his plan to harm his family had succeeded, Onyiuke drove off in his bus to the provision shop, where he set himself ablaze.
The Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu, stated that the police had not yet received an official report of the incident as of the time of this report. The deceased’s body has been deposited at the AE-FETHA morgue, and further investigations are expected to follow.
The tragic event has left the local community in shock, raising concerns about domestic issues and mental health awareness.
