Landlady allegedly sets tenant’s son ablaze in Ajegunle

Controversy is currently trailing the death of a
22-year-old man, who was allegedly set ablaze
by his landlady and her children in the densely-
populated Ajegunle area of Lagos.
The deceased, simply identified as Emmanuel,
reportedly went to ease himself in the early
hours of Tuesday, leaving his father and sister
inside their one-room apartment.
His sister, who had waited endlessly for his
return, went to check on him in the toilet situated
at the boys quarters of the building on Alafia
Street.
She reportedly found her brother on the ground
with his body on fire. She raised an alarm,
which attracted tenants.
Two hospitals were said to have rejected
Emmanuel. He reportedly breathed his last after
writhing in pains.
While the deceased’s family alleged that
Emmanuel was set ablaze by the landlady and
her children, the latter, who is on the run, alleged
that the former intended to set the building
ablaze but was caught in his own web.
Feud
Investigation by Vanguard revealed that there
had been a lingering quarrel between
Emmanuel’s family and the landlady. It was
gathered that both parties had been to the
Ajeromi Police Station several times to settle
quarrels.
A resident, who spoke on strict condition of
anonymity when Vanguard visited, blamed
policemen at Ajeromi for not nipping the
situation in the bud until it led to Emmanuel’s
death.
According to the resident, “I blame policemen at
Ajeromi for the death of this young man.
Emmanuel’s father and the landlady have
reported their misunderstandings to the police
several times. Nothing was done to bring a
lasting solution to the quarrel. Had they acted
when they were supposed to, this would not
have happened.”
Although the resident could not tell exactly what
happened that fateful night, he said: “I woke up
with the alarm raised by some tenants that night.
We were told that it was the deceased that lit the
fire.
“However, the question is how is it possible
judging from the distance between his apartment
and where the fire was said to have been lit?
This is what the Police should look into.”
Another resident, who also spoke with
Vanguard, said: “How come he sustained fire
burns if he was in his room? How come only the
window of the affected room was gutted by fire
if he did not intend to set the building ablaze?
“Many are of the view that the petrol could have
spilled on him as he struck the match. Besides,
he was alone at the scene of the fire.”
Police sources hinted that the landlady, whose
identity could not be immediately ascertained,
had bolted, adding that effort was on to
apprehend her with a view to commencing
investigation into the matter.
At press time yesterday, operatives at the
homicide section of the State Criminal
Intelligence and Investigations Department,
SCIID, Yaba, had taken over the investigation.