Controversy is currently trailing the death of a 22-year-old man, who was
allegedly set ablaze by his landlady and her children in the densely-populated
Ajegunle area of Lagos.
The deceased, simply identified as Emmanuel, reportedly went to ease himself in
the early hours of Tuesday, leaving his father and sister inside their one-room
apartment. His sister, who had waited endlessly for his return, went to check
on him in the toilet situated at the boys quarters of the building on Alafia
Street.
She reportedly found her brother on the ground with his body on fire. She
raised an alarm, which
attracted tenants. Two hospitals were said to have rejected
Emmanuel. He reportedly breathed his last after writhing in pains.
While the deceased’s family alleged that Emmanuel was set ablaze by the
landlady and her children, the latter, who is on the run, alleged that the
former intended to set the building ablaze but was caught in his own web.
- Feud
Investigation by Vanguard revealed that there had been a lingering quarrel between
Emmanuel’s family and the landlady. It was gathered that both parties had been
to the Ajeromi Police Station several times to settle quarrels.
A resident, who spoke on strict condition of anonymity when Vanguard visited,
blamed policemen at Ajeromi for not nipping the situation in the bud until it
led to Emmanuel’s death.
According to the resident,
man. Emmanuel’s father and the landlady have reported their misunderstandings
to the police several times. Nothing was done to bring a lasting solution to
the quarrel. Had they acted when they were supposed to, this would not have
happened.”
exactly what happened that fateful night, he said:
We were told that it was the deceased that lit the fire.
“However, the question is how is it possible judging from the distance between
his apartment and where the fire was said to have been lit? This is what the
Police should look into.”
with Vanguard, said:
come only the window of the affected room was gutted by fire if he did not
intend to set the building ablaze?
“Many are of the view that the petrol could have spilled on him as he struck
the match. Besides, he was alone at the scene of the fire.”
landlady, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained, had bolted,
adding that effort was on to apprehend her with a view to commencing
investigation into the matter.
At press time yesterday, operatives at the homicide section of the State
Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department, SCIID, Yaba, had taken
over the investigation.