*Father allegedly threatened other Community members
A two-year-old boy was allegedly set ablaze by his own father at Umuahim Ikenga village, Eziudo autonomous community of Ezinihitte, Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
The tragic incident happened on May 10. Uchechi Nwaogwugwu had reportedly poured petrol on his little son before setting him on fire for misbehaving.http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/1022082-3×2-340×227.jpg
According to Nwaogwugwu’s neighbour, he saw the former carrying a container of fuel and allegedly saying he would teach his son a lesson for defecating on his cloth.
Later, the neighbour saw thick smoke emanating from Nwaogwugwu’s compound, as the tenant emerged, with his hand burning, threw the flame at his son and ran away.
Before the neighbours could rescue the boy, he was already dead.
However, local police presented a slightly different version of the story: Nwaogwugwu was trying to light his lamp with the kerosene and petrol he had bought, but, after mixing both substances, the lamp exploded. Nwaogwugwu then mistakenly threw the cloth that caught fire at his son who was in the corridor.
The police have arrested the boy’s father, while the boy’s remains were taken to the local hospital. The police have also described the father of the boy as a “stubborn” person and explained that was the reason for the locals’ suspecting him of the deliberate crime.
Local residents, who spoke on the barbaric act, said the suspect had repeatedly threatened to kill at least seven persons in the community, including his wife who ran away over the threat by her husband.
The traditional ruler of Eziudo autonomous community, His Royal Majesty, Eze Desmond Oguguo, confirmed the incident and the fact that the father of the boy had previously threatened other community members.
