I set my wife ablaze for failing to serve me food on time – Suspect

By Christopher Oji 

A 46-year-old man, Hassan Azeez, who allegedly set his wife ablaze with fuel, has told why he committed the act. He claimed that he was angry because his wife refused to serve him food at the appropriate time.

The suspects had been on the run since he allegedly committed the act on October 22, 2022 until he was arrested recently in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Azeez, who was arrested by operatives from Ogun State Police Command, told police investors that he was angry that his wife refused to serve him food at the appropriate time.

He was quoted as saying, “on the fateful day, I asked my wife to prepare food for me, but instead of preparing the food, she was busy washing clothes. Although, the clothes she was washing were mine, I was angry because she neglected me. I was so hungry because a hungry man is an angry man. It was the annoyance that made me to pour fuel on her, and set her ablaze. I regret my action, but I blame everything on the devil”

The suspect was arrested following a report lodged at Ibogun Divisional Headquarters by the victim’s father, who reported on October 22, 2022, that her daughter, Olayinka Hassan was set ablaze by her husband over a minor disagreement, and that the victim, a mother of one, was rushed to the hospital in Ibadan. 

Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ibogun Division, Samuel Oladele, a Chief Superintendent of Police, quickly mobilised his men and moved to the scene, but before getting there, the suspect had escaped. 

According to Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, “since then, police operatives have been on his trail until January 22, when he was eventually apprehended.

On interrogation, the suspect who claimed to have run away to Benin Republic, confessed to the commission of the crime, but blamed it on the devil. 

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Lanre Bankole, has directed that the suspect be transferred to Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Departments (SCID), for further investigation and possible prosecution.