Murder Suspect Denies Killing Estranged Wife, Setting Her Family Home Ablaze

A 40-year-old woman, Igbagbo Erobe, was found dead after a fire engulfed her father's residence in Igbo Edu, Abigi area of Ogun State. The incident has taken a disturbing turn, with police investigators suspecting that she had been killed before the building was set ablaze. Her estranged husband, 56-year-old Madarikan Emehinola, is now in police custody, accused of the crime.

According to police investigators, Emehinola allegedly went to the community in the early hours of October 18, 2026, armed with a five-litre container partly filled with petrol, and killed Erobe before setting the building ablaze. The police found bloodstains suspected to be connected with the incident on the container recovered from Emehinola following his arrest.

Emehinola has denied involvement in the alleged murder, claiming that he stopped visiting Erobe after she informed him that she had found another husband and was no longer interested in their relationship. He said they had lived together until January 2026, when Erobe told him she wanted to return to her hometown for work.

The suspect narrated that around June, Erobe allegedly called to tell him that she no longer wanted him around, and that she had a new husband. Emehinola claimed that he respected her decision and had not returned to the community since then. He also offered an explanation for his possession of the petrol container, claiming that he had gone to Obi Market to sell his goods and intended to purchase petrol for his boat engine.

However, police sources revealed that the relationship between Erobe and Emehinola had lasted about two years before Erobe reportedly ended it. The sources also disclosed that two residents of the area raised the alarm after allegedly sighting a man fleeing from the scene with a five-litre petrol container while the building was burning.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Oluseyi Banaseyi, condemned the killing and expressed sympathy with the family of the deceased. Banaseyi said the command was committed to ensuring that those responsible for criminal acts in the state were brought to justice.

The incident has raised concerns about the prevalence of domestic violence and murder in Nigeria. The police have assured the public that every effort will be made to establish the facts and ensure that justice is served. Emehinola's case is ongoing, with investigators working to determine the circumstances surrounding Erobe's death.

Key points

• Madarikan Emehinola, 56, has been arrested and accused of murdering his estranged wife, Igbagbo Erobe, 40.
• Emehinola denies the allegations, claiming he had ended his relationship with Erobe after she informed him of her new marriage.
• The police are investigating the incident and have recovered evidence, including a five-litre petrol container with bloodstains.