Cleric Allegedly Sets His Wife’s House On Fire Over Refusal To Participate In Late Night Prayer

According to reports, a man named Ahmed Ojo has been accused of setting his wife's home on fire in the Egbe Odo area of Isua Ijesa in Ekiti State. 

The reason for this act of violence is said to be his wife's refusal to join him in observing a late-night prayer. Bosede Afolabi, Ojo's wife, revealed in an interview with Punch that the incident occurred on April 27. Her husband had returned home and requested that they observe a prayer around 11 pm on the said date. 

However, Bosede declined the request, stating that she was too tired. This refusal angered Ojo, who began to cause trouble. Bosede attempted to calm him down, but her efforts were in vain. Eventually, in fear of violence, Bosede had to leave the house and spend the night at a neighbor's residence.

"At about midnight, a girl from our neighbourhood came to knock on the house to inform us that my house was on fire and that it seemed my husband had set the house on fire,” she narrated.

“I and some neighbours rushed to the scene only to see that the whole building had been engulfed in fire. Before we could get help in putting the fire out, the building had been razed.

“He was later caught and handed over to the police.”

She added that she remarried Ojo after her first husband passed away, and she has been accommodating him since they got married.

When asked if there had been recurring misunderstanding between them, Afolabi said they had no misunderstanding before the incident.

She, however, blamed her husband’s action on the influence of alcohol.

“What I observed that night was that he was drunk, which was why I tried to avoid the escalation of the disagreement that ensued on that fateful day. He often comes home drunk sometimes, but we have not had any serious misunderstanding in the past,” Afolabi noted.

She added that the incident had left her in a devastating situation due to the huge loss it had caused her.

“I have not been myself since the incident happened because of the loss it has caused me. I appeal to Nigerians to come to my aid,” she concluded.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the incident said that the suspect is under investigation.

“The incident happened. The man has been arrested and he is currently undergoing investigation at the state’s CID,” Abutu added.