Wife dies in Ogun house fire, husband arrested

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 56-year-old man, Madarikan Emehinola, over the death of his 40-year-old wife, Igbagbo Erobe, in a house fire in the Igbo-Edu area of Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.

PUNCH Metro learnt from the command that the incident, suspected to be a case of arson, was reported at the Abigi Divisional Police Headquarters on Sunday, following information that a house had been set ablaze, resulting in the woman’s death.

The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi.

The command added that the deceased’s body had been deposited at a mortuary for post-mortem examination.

The police disclosed that the case was being processed for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

The statement partly read, “The Ogun State Police Command has a 56-year-old man, Madarikan Emehinola, in custody in connection with a suspected arson incident that claimed the life of his 40-year-old wife, Igbagbo Erobe, in the Igbo-Edu area of Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.

“The incident was reported at Abigi Divisional Police Headquarters on Sunday, 18 October 2026, following information that a house had been set ablaze, resulting in the woman’s death.

“The deceased’s body has been deposited at a mortuary for post-mortem examination. The case is being processed for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.”

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Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, assured the public that the matter would be investigated diligently and professionally in accordance with the law.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that allegations of serious crimes received appropriate investigative attention.

The police also urged members of the public to report suspicious activities promptly and provide credible information that could assist crime prevention and ongoing investigations.

PUNCH Metro reported a similar incident in 2024, when a man identified as Olubunmi Johnson allegedly set his wife, Kikelomo, on fire in their apartment on Fagbuyi Street, Ilogbo, in the Ota area of Ogun State.

An eyewitness told PUNCH Metro that the incident occurred around 8:30pm following a domestic dispute.