By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A 47-year-old vulcaniser, Saheed Ganiyu, is cooling his heels in detention at the Utako Division of the FCT Police Command after he allegedly set his girlfriend, Esther (surname withheld), on fire. He reportedly poured her petrol from the bottle he had with him, while fire ignited from the lighter he also held.

But the suspect has denied the allegation, expressing his love for the victim and saying that the fire resulted from the cigarette he was trying to light, unknown to him that petrol from the bottle he clutched in his armpit had dripped on his girlfriend’s dress when they struggled with each other while he was trying to stop her from drinking alcohol.

His 32–year-old girlfriend is currently in the National Hospital, Abuja, battling for life with the severe burns she suffered from the fire. The suspect, who was almost lynched by the mob, was also rushed by the police to the hospital to receive medical treatment. He was, however, released to the police a few days after.

Information gathered by the Nigerian Tribune had it that on December 29, 2024, at about 10:15 pm, there was a distress call made to FCT Police Command Control Room that there was a problem at Jabi Motor Park.

The Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, immediately dispatched a patrol team to the scene from Utako Division, and on getting there, the police operatives met a large crowd. In the midst of the crowd was the suspect, already beaten to stupor, and his girlfriend, Esther, who had severe burns.

It was further learnt that the two of them were immediately evacuated and taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for medical attention and treatment. By then, the lady was said to have become unconscious.

Enquiries by the police at the scene revealed that the suspect and his girlfriend were in a hot argument that led to pulling and dragging each other within the motor park. The suspect, who had a plastic bottle containing about a half litre of petrol was alleged to have poured the combustible liquid on the girlfriend and ignited fire with his lighter. She was immediately engulfed in flame, and people rushed to help her extinguish it. By then, however, she had suffered severe burns.

Infuriated by the act, the mob reportedly descended on him. He was discharged on December 31 and taken to the police station while Esther is still receiving treatment.

In an interview by the Nigerian Tribune, Ganiyu, from Ibadan, Oyo State, said that he didn’t deliberately set his beloved girlfriend on fire, but didn’t know the petrol bottle he put in his armpit dripped and sprinkled on her dress while they were struggling over the lit cigarette she wanted to take from him. He said that the lady was trying to retaliate his displeasure with the way she was addicted to alcohol.

The suspect, a vulcaniser said: “I came to stay in Abuja in 2008. Esther is my girlfriend, and I love her so much. We started dating in February 2024.

“Esther is a lady who used to help me a lot. She would come to my business stand every morning and clean everywhere. She would also put my vulcanising machine at the appropriate place. On Sunday, December 29, she told me that she was going to church and I gave her N200 as offering. I also gave her N2,500 to buy something that we could eat on her return.

“I expected her return from church and waited at my stand but didn’t see her.

Before that day, she had asked me for clothes and shoes she would wear at the new year, so I put the money I made together and went to buy a shirt and a pair of shoes for her at the cost of N30,000 before her return. I planned buying the jeans she would wear with the shirt before the New Year.

“At about 6 pm, I closed from my stand and went to the side I used to stay for night work. To my displeasure, I saw my girl where Ogogoro (alcohol) was being sold. She was taking the one named ‘Yahoo.’ I called her and asked why she did that again when she told me that she was going to church as she had changed from being alcoholic.

“I tried to collect the bottle from her and she was dragging it with me. I collected it and threw it away. I went to the place I was doing night job and called her several times to go and help buy petrol that I would use, but she didn’t respond. She still stayed where alcohol was being sold. I went to buy the petrol myself, just half a litre.

“When I returned, I saw her holding another bottle of alcohol. I held her from the back and tried to snatch the bottle from her. I didn’t know that the cover of the petrol bottle I held in my armpit was twisting and turning. I continued dragging the alcohol bottle she held. I pushed her and she pushed me back, making the fuel bottle to fall. She was pouring vituperation on me but I left the place.

“I went to buy cigarette, and as I was smoking the first one, Esther came and removed it from my mouth. As I put the second one and wanted to light it, Esther came to me again.

“Then I heard something like and explosion. Then I saw her body on fire. I didn’t know that the fuel that had initially dripped had soaked her dress.

“Esther is my love that I don’t joke with. If she went out to buy something and didn’t return in good time, I would be so concerned.

I love her so much that I would not eat if she had not eaten. I used to make her eat first. She can be asked if I’m lying. I didn’t like her to be troubled, especially because of the leg deformity she has. On December 23, I sustained this injury (showing it) because of her. One Aboki tainted her deformity by calling her Gurugu (someone limping) and I was so furious.”

He said that it was not the first time he saw her with alcoholic drink. “I noticed it after we started dating. I corrected her many times but she always flared up. She was drinking Bull, Yahoo, Igboya, among other alcoholic drinks. Though I also take, I don’t like such a thing for a woman. And I don’t take it while at work. I don’t take any drugs, only cigarettes. She was also always taking Tramadol, telling me that her leg was paining her.

“I didn’t pour petrol on her. It was the devil that turned things this way. Since she was hospitalized, despite my own condition as a result of much beating, I have not felt well. I know that my life has been destroyed.

“I appeal that I should be allowed to see her. I’m ready to marry her. Though I’m a Muslim, I want her to be going to church so that she can be transformed positively. She was already changing at a time when she started attending church,” he stated.

The suspect is a divorcee whose ex-wife remarried long time ago. One of his three children, all males, is already a father.

Esther’s uncle, Mr Modaki Kofur, a retired Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Army, said that Esther had once lived with him. “My sister is in Taraba State and Esther had been with me.

“The deformity she has is a result of her falling during obstacles training when she was to be recruited into the Nigerian Navy about 12 years ago. She broke her hip bone.

“She left my house over two years ago, and I thought she was in Enugu State, where she said she was going to work. She came to where my family is in February 2024. She said that her life was not going smoothly and had been told to go back to me for prayers. I told her that I always wish her well.

To my surprise, I heard of what happened to her on December 31. I was told that she was rushed to National Hospital. I went on January 1 and saw her in a terrible state. The problem we have now is money to take care of her. We have spent a lot since the incident occurred, and we were told by the hospital that she may need to be there for two months. That’s why we have been telling me the man who caused the problem to look for more money, but he has not been able to do anything.”

In his comment, CP Disu stressed the need for controlled anger, advising members of the public to always exercise patience and seek peace whenever there is disagreement, so as to avoid unexpected negative results.

He added that the suspect would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of the investigation.

( Tribune, excluding headline )