Jealous woman allegedly burns lover’s kids to death

Police in Benue State, Nigeria, have arrested Mbalumen Ikyenge in connection with a tragic incident where two young girls were burned to death. The fire allegedly engulfed the house of their father, Aondoyima Ierkwagh, in Zaki-Biam, Ukum Local Government Area.

The victims, aged four and six, were reportedly rescued by neighbors and rushed to a hospital, but succumbed to their severe burns. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state, Udeme Edet, confirmed the arrest and stated that the investigation is ongoing. Edet noted that the initial report from the girls' father indicated that someone set his house on fire, though she could not confirm if a lovers' quarrel was the direct cause.

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I don’t really know if it was a lovers’ quarrel that resulted in the act, but the report we got from the father of the girls was that someone set his house on fire.

However, witnesses speaking anonymously to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) suggested a different motive. They alleged that the incident stemmed from a relationship dispute. According to these witnesses, Ms. Ikyenge visited her boyfriend, Mr. Ierkwagh, on Sunday night but was asked to leave. She reportedly refused, suspecting another woman was present in the house.

Witnesses claim that Mr. Ierkwagh had secured his two daughters in a separate round hut before retiring to another. Around midnight, the suspect allegedly set ablaze the hut where she believed another woman was, but the fire tragically spread to the structure where the two girls were sleeping. The police are continuing their investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding the fatal fire.

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Neighbours tried to rescue the girls by rushing them to the hospital, but they died while receiving treatment.