Suspected arsonists have set the 75-year-old elder sister of the Attah Igala, Mathew Opaluwa, ablaze, killing her in the process.
It wss learnt that the woman, identified as Meimunat Sani, was set ablaze alongside her granddaughter, Hajarat, in the early hours of Thursday, in her Oketekwe residence in the Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State.
A family source said a group of people invaded the home of the deceased with petrol and razed it while the monarch’s sister, her daughter, and granddaughter were asleep.
“They poured the petrol on the house and set it on fire. The five-year-old granddaughter, Mama, died immediately after suffering severe burns, while Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa Sani, along with her daughter, was rushed to an undisclosed hospital.
“Mallama later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital, while her daughter was still battling for her life.”
However, while confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, William Aya, said the 75-year-old woman’s daughter on Friday.
“Someone came to the station and reported that there was a fire outbreak in one of the rooms in the house in their family compound or so. So, when they rushed to the place, they found three people.
“A five-year-old girl was burnt to death while two elderly persons were rushed to the hospital. One died yesterday (Thursday) and the information I got today (Friday) is that the third person died today. We have commenced an investigation into the matter,” he added.
Earlier, the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaib Audu, in a condolence message issued on his behalf by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Lizzy Okonji, described the incident as tragic and sacrilegious.
The statement added, “The Minister has extended his heartfelt condolences to the paramount ruler of Igala kingdom, Matthew Opaluwa, over the death of his sister, Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa-Sani, and her granddaughter.”
“I also commiserate with the entire people of the Igala kingdom at this time because this is a loss to every one of us. I call on security agencies to investigate the alleged arson and bring the perpetrators of this act to book so that it would serve as a deterrent to others.
“Such acts of sacrilege must be discouraged in our land.”