Confusion As Man Sets His Triplets Ablaze In Ebonyi

Residents of Agbaja Unuhu area in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, are still in shock following the actions of a father of eight who set his apartment ablaze to kill a set of triplets he recently had with
his wife.

45-year-old Chinedu Okpuru Mgboke, who is an aluminum fabricator, was alleged to have set his rented apartment ablaze following a minor disagreement between him and his wife.

It was gathered that the bone of contention between the couple was who should be in charge of over N3 million given to the couple as assistance after the delivery of their triplets by the Ebonyi State government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

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The triplets were born 5 months ago at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FETHA), where the government's attention was drawn to pick their medical bills. An eyewitness, Mr Okemini Isaac, who happens to be a resident in the area told reporters that the problem started that eventful day, when the man’s wife; Mrs Chinyere Okpuru went and withdrew the sum of N20,000 from the bank for their upkeep. But on getting home, her husband reportedly requested for part of the money which she immediately gave to him.

According to the eyewitness, after a while, the man started raving in anger and in the process threatened to kill the babies to close that source of assistance and invariably end his wife’s alleged embarrassment to him. The man felt that the small money put under his wife’s control had given her some measure of authority over him.

Mr Okemini added that the woman did not take her husband’s expression of anger seriously and stepped out of their house for an errand. As soon as she did, the husband allegedly grabbed a container of kerosene, poured the content inside their house and set it on fire. The source continued that what saved the children was that his wife came back almost immediately, by then the fire was gradually becoming intense.

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Upon discovery, she quickly raised alarm and through the help of their neighbours, the fire was controlled while the children were rescued unhurt.
Speaking about her ordeal to reporters, Mrs Okpuru said;

“My husband has been in this habit of maltreating me before the birth of these triplets, by then I was a hawker, selling canned drinks at motor parks and each time I returned without remitting money to him, he would simply throw my remaining wares outside, upturn my hand bag and seize any money found in it.

“On that fateful day, I went and withdrew the sum of N20,000 and out of the amount, the sum of N5,000 was given to him in spite of the fact that he could not use it for something else than alcoholic drinks, this is the reason I did not take his scolding seriously until when I discovered through his action that he really wanted to kill the children, I then raised the alarm.”

The mother of eight revealed that she has been suffering in silence in the marriage in a bid to keep their marital life going.

Mr Ikechukwu Nkwegu who identified as the lady's brother added that as soon as he heard about the dastardly act, he ordered for the in-law’s arrest. He claimed that his sister and her other five children were had been suffering due to hardship before the birth of the triplets which brought the couple some fortune courtesy of Governor David Umahi.

Nkwegu alleged that his sister’s life had been in danger since the financial assistance rendered by the state government because of the incessant threats the husband made.

The Suspect was later taken into police custody at the Juvenile Welfare Centre, Police headquarters, Abakaliki, where confessed to the crime;

“I was confused during my action, I don't know what came over me."

He was reportedly detained for about two days before he was later released by the police after giving him stern warning and counselling from the officials of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

However, it was gathered that the quarrels between the couple had not stopped as at last Friday. The mother of the triplets told reporters that;

“Even now that he had been released by police, still he had not ceased from abusing me verbally by calling me all kinds of derogatory names and based on this, I am appealing that he should be called to order”.

One of their neighbours who did not want to be named collaborated to the story;

“The man wouldn’t allow this woman to rest. Every time he keeps threatening that he would deal with her. Instead of them to work together and train their kids; he’s always threatening fire and brimstone”.