A 56-year-old man, Madarikan Emehinola, has been taken into custody by the Ogun State Police Command over the alleged murder of his estranged wife, 40-year-old Igbagbo Erobe. The incident occurred in the Igbo Edu area of Abigi, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state. According to reports, Emehinola killed his wife, the mother of six, before setting her father's house on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence of the crime.
The suspect allegedly committed the crime on October 18, 2026, at about 1am. Two residents, Seun and another resident, reportedly witnessed Emehinola fleeing the scene with a five-litre keg containing petrol shortly after the fire started. They raised the alarm, alerting the deceased's relatives and security operatives in the area. A search was launched, and security personnel in a neighbouring community spotted and arrested Emehinola at a junction.
Investigators discovered bloodstains suspected to be connected with the killing on the petrol container. A police source at the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Ogun State Police Command, revealed that the incident was linked to the breakdown of the relationship between the deceased and the suspect. The source stated that Erobe had abandoned Emehinola and started a new relationship with another man earlier in the year.
Emehinola, an indigene of Igbokoda in Ondo State, denied involvement in the incident, claiming that Erobe had ended their relationship after telling him that she was no longer interested in him and had found another man. He stated that he had stopped visiting her since June this year, when she allegedly informed him of her new relationship. However, the police have recovered evidence, including the five-litre keg containing petrol, which contradicts his claims.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Oluseyi Banaseyi, condemned the incident and expressed condolences to the family of the deceased. Banaseyi reiterated the commitment of the Commissioner of Police, CP Olubode Ojajuni, to ensuring that criminal elements were brought to justice. The police command has assured the public that every effort will be made to establish the facts and ensure that justice is served.
Emehinola claimed that he was arrested at Obi Market at about 3am on a market day, stating that he had gone there to sell his goods. He said he sold cassava, fishing nets, firewood, and other items at different markets in the area and intended to use the five-litre keg to buy petrol for his engine boat after the day's sales. However, the police are yet to confirm his alibi.
The incident has raised concerns about the increasing rate of domestic violence and murder in the state. The police command has urged the public to report any suspicious activities and has assured that perpetrators of such crimes will be brought to justice. The case is currently under investigation, and further details are expected to be revealed as the investigation unfolds.
Key points
- The suspect, Madarikan Emehinola, allegedly killed his estranged wife, Igbagbo Erobe, and set her father's house on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence of the crime.
- The incident was linked to the breakdown of the relationship between the deceased and the suspect, with Erobe having abandoned Emehinola and started a new relationship with another man.
- The police have recovered evidence, including the five-litre keg containing petrol and bloodstains, which contradicts Emehinola's claims of innocence.
