What began as a disagreement between a husband and wife in Lokoja ended in horror after a 43-year-old clergyman allegedly drenched his spouse with petrol and set her on fire, leaving the woman battling severe burns and a community demanding justice.

The suspect, identified as Jacob Irewa, was arrested by the Kogi State Police Command following the incident, which occurred at Oworo Estate in the Felele area of Lokoja, the state capital.

The shocking attack has sparked widespread outrage among residents, many of whom struggled to come to terms with the allegations against a man described as a religious leader. The couple had reportedly been married for four years before the violent incident shattered their home.

Witnesses said angry youths attempted to attack the suspect shortly after the incident, but local vigilantes intervened and secured him before police officers arrived at the scene.

Speaking while in police custody, Irewa admitted to setting his wife ablaze and attributed his actions to anger and what he described as temptation.

According to him, the dispute began after his wife allegedly burnt some of his clothes.

“I never knew what came over me. My wife burnt my clothes and when I questioned her, she did not show remorse. I became angry, went to my motorcycle, took petrol and poured it on her while she was cooking. I am pleading with her family to forgive me,” he reportedly said.

His wife, Berida Irawo, who survived the attack and is receiving treatment for severe burns, gave a chilling account of the incident from her hospital bed.

She explained that she had disposed of some of her husband's old clothes after repeatedly urging him to stop wearing them because they were worn out.

According to her, the decision triggered a heated confrontation that quickly spiralled out of control.

“I burnt the clothes because they were old and worn out. I had advised him several times to stop wearing them because I wanted him to look good, but he refused. When he found out, he became very angry,” she said.

The victim said she tried to calm her husband, but he allegedly chased her before fetching fuel from his motorcycle.

“I was cooking at the time. When I went to check the food, he poured petrol on me and set me on fire. That was how I got burnt,” she recounted.

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The victim’s uncle, Samuel Morito, called on authorities to ensure that justice is served.

“All we want is justice for our daughter. Look at what her husband almost did to her life,” he said.

Religious leaders and community members have also condemned the alleged attack, describing it as a disturbing act of domestic violence that runs contrary to the values of love, patience and peaceful conflict resolution.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kogi State Command, SP Saliu Afusat Oyiza, said officers attached to the B Division Surveillance Team in Felele responded swiftly after receiving a distress report on the night of August 14.

According to the police, preliminary findings indicate that the altercation started after the victim burnt some clothes belonging to the suspect without obtaining his consent.

“The suspect subsequently threatened her, fetched petrol from his motorcycle and proceeded to set her ablaze,” the statement said.

Police authorities confirmed that the victim survived the attack and is currently receiving treatment at Honey Gold Hospital in Felele.

The Command further disclosed that the suspect admitted during interrogation to carrying out the act and that investigators have launched a full-scale probe to gather additional evidence and establish all circumstances surrounding the case.

Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, strongly condemned the incident, reiterating the Command’s zero-tolerance stance on domestic violence and other forms of violent crime.

He urged couples facing disagreements to seek lawful and peaceful means of resolving disputes rather than resorting to actions that could lead to tragedy.

The police said the suspect would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, assuring residents that justice would take its full course.

As the victim fights for recovery, the disturbing incident has reignited conversations about domestic violence and the devastating consequences of unchecked anger within families.