A 32-year-old man, Sunny Amadi, who was set ablaze in Choba community, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, has died from injuries sustained in the attack.
Reports suggest Amadi was allegedly set on fire by his girlfriend, Cynthia Chukwundah, at her apartment in Choba.
Chukwundah, a 300-level student of the University of Port Harcourt, reportedly invited her boyfriend over, allowed him to fall into a deep sleep, then doused him and the apartment with petrol before setting them ablaze.
According to neighbours, the couple had been involved in a heated argument that escalated into violence.
Both sustained burns in the incident, but Amadi later died as a result of third-degree burns.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has confirmed Amadi’s death.
According to the Command, Amadi was rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital for emergency treatment but later succumbed to his injuries.
In an official statement released on Tuesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the police disclosed that Chukwundah has been located and is currently receiving medical care at a hospital, following injuries she also sustained during the incident.
Iringe-Koko further revealed that the suspect is heavily pregnant with the deceased’s child.
She added that due to her critical condition, she has not been able to provide a detailed account of the event but is expected to do so once her health improves.
The statement read: “According to the report, one Cynthia Chukwundah, a 300-level female undergraduate student of the University of Port Harcourt, allegedly set her boyfriend one Saint Sunny Amadi, a 32-year-old male from the Elibrada Community in Emohua LGA, ablaze in a room, resulting in severe injuries during the inferno and was rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital for medical treatment.
“Upon receiving the report at about 11:12 am, police detectives from Choba Division promptly visited the scene and the victim at the hospital, who was in critical condition.
“Unfortunately, the victim later succumbed to injuries and died while on admission.
“The Police have located Cynthia, who is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital due to injuries she also sustained during the incident.
“She is also heavily pregnant with the deceased’s child. Due to her critical condition, she is unable to provide a detailed account of the incident, but will do so when her condition is stable.
“The probable cause of the fire incident is yet to be ascertained, and a thorough investigation has been launched to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident. Further developments will be made public as more information becomes available.”
