Woman Burns Boyfriend's Two Daughters to Death

Tragedy has struck Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State following the death of two young sisters who sustained severe burns after a fire allegedly set by a woman said to be in a relationship with their father.

The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday at the Kaffe community in Zaki-Biam.

According to residents, the suspect, identified as Mbayegh, had visited the residence of her alleged lover, Aondoyima Ierkwagh, intending to spend the night. However, the man was said to have turned down her request and asked her to leave the premises.

Community sources alleged that the woman became enraged after suspecting that another woman was hiding inside the compound. Despite repeated appeals to leave, she allegedly refused.

It was gathered that the children's mother had travelled to Taraba State for farming activities, while their father had locked his two daughters inside a traditional round hut before retiring to another part of the compound.

A resident, who requested anonymity, claimed that the suspect later set the hut ablaze, allegedly believing another woman was inside. The two girls were trapped in the inferno and suffered severe burns.

The victims were reportedly rescued by neighbours and rushed to a hospital, where they later died while receiving treatment.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, said the children's father reported that an unidentified person had set his house on fire.

She disclosed that although preliminary information suggested the incident might have stemmed from a domestic dispute, investigators were yet to establish the exact motive behind the attack.

Edet added that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident, while a full-scale investigation was ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths.