Suspected arsonists attacked the residence of 75-year-old Meimunat Opaluwa Sani, the elder sister of Attah Igala, Mathew Opaluwa, resulting in a tragic incident where Meimunat and her granddaughter, Hajarat, were set ablaze and killed in the early hours of Thursday.
The horrifying event took place at her Oketekwe residence in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State.
According to a family source, a group of individuals arrived at the house with petrol while Meimunat, her daughter, and granddaughter were sleeping.
They poured petrol on the house and set it on fire. The five-year-old granddaughter died immediately from severe burns, while Meimunat and her daughter were rushed to an undisclosed hospital.
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Unfortunately, Meimunat later succumbed to her injuries, while her daughter continues to battle for her life.
The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaib Audu, extended his condolences to the paramount ruler of Igala Kingdom, Mathew Opaluwa, describing the deaths as tragic and sacrilegious.
He urged security agencies to investigate the alleged arson and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Audu expressed his sorrow, stating, “It is with a heavy heart that I condole with our father, HRM, Mathew Opaluwa, and the royal family over the deaths of his sister and her granddaughter, whose lives were taken in the most painful manner.”
He called for a thorough investigation to deter future acts of sacrilege.
As of the time of reporting, the Kogi State Police Command and the state Security Adviser had not responded to the incident.
The police spokesperson, SP William Aya, and the state Security Adviser, Jerry Omadara, were unavailable for comments.
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