Ogun Police Arrest 56-Year-Old Man After Wife Dies in House Fire

A 56-year-old man has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command following the death of his 40-year-old wife in a house fire in Igbo-Edu, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area. The police suspect arson and say investigations are underway to establish what led to the incident.

The suspect, identified as Madarikan Emehinola, was taken into custody after the incident was reported at the Abigi Divisional Police Headquarters on Sunday. The report indicated that a house had been set ablaze, resulting in the death of his wife, Igbagbo Erobe.

The police confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi. The statement said Emehinola was being held in connection with the suspected arson while detectives worked to determine the circumstances surrounding the fire.

Police said Erobe’s body had been taken to a mortuary for a post-mortem examination. The examination is expected to form part of the investigation into her death, although the command has not disclosed any findings from the process.

The command also announced plans to transfer the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation. The move is intended to allow investigators to examine the circumstances of the incident in greater detail.

Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, assured residents that the case would be handled professionally and in accordance with the law. He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that serious criminal allegations receive appropriate investigative attention.

The police have not disclosed further details about how the fire started or the evidence linking the suspect to the alleged offence. Emehinola’s arrest does not establish guilt, and the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death remain under investigation.

The command urged residents to report suspicious activities and provide credible information that could assist ongoing investigations and help prevent crime. Further developments are expected as investigators work to establish what happened in the Igbo-Edu community.