DANIEL EZEIGWE
Anambra Governor’s wife, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has vowed to follow up closely on the case of a man who allegedly set his wife on fire in Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area until full justice is served.
The governor’s wife made the disclosure after receiving details of the viral incident from the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Mrs Ify Obinabo and her health counterpart, Dr Afam Obidike, whom she had directed to immediately visit the scene of the incident.
The victim, Mrs Blessing Chioma Nwaka, a mother of five boys, was seen in a viral gory clip on social media late yesterday, scampering for safety while carrying a 3rd degree burn around her torso and other body areas.
According to eyewitnesses, the victim’s husband, Mr Sunday Obiozor Nwaka, a middle-aged man who, alongside their five sons, depended on the wife’s petty business to survive, emptied a can of fuel on the woman and immediately set her on fire over little family misunderstanding.
It was passersby and neighbours who managed to put out the fire, though it had dealt significant burns on the victim.
She was then rushed to a medical facility in Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area, where she was pronounced dead at around 3 am today.
The alleged arsonist has now been taken into custody and would soon face prosecution.
In her reaction to the incident which she described as gruesome and evil, Mrs Soludo vowed to see to the end of the case, insisting that the full justice must be made to take prime place in the whole process.
She reiterated that the present administration takes issues of domestic violence and abuses as serious crimes, stating that no one who is found guilty of such offences would be let to walk free.
The governor’s further expressed strong disappointment at the rising cases of violence and abuses in homes and re-issued her long-term call for serious social reformation, beginning with a systemic approach to fighting drug use and related problems.
She added that the state government will now find the best approach to take care of the five children whom, she maintained, should be in the most careful manner.