- One of the five children, a nine-year-old, was said to have died in the fire while the four others suffered severe burns.
One Nicodemus Ajaku has set the house and children of his neighbour on fire in Adamawa State.
One of the five children, a nine-year-old, was said to have died in the fire incident while the four others suffered severe burns.
The victims are children of one Daniel Cha’ama who is said to be embroiled in a land dispute with Ajaku.
The incident, which happened in Mubi Local Government Area where the duo live, was said to be a case of mistaken identity.
Nicodemus Ajaku, who is now on the run, allegedly set fire to Cha’ama’s children’s room who were sleeping thinking it was that of Cha’ama who was his real target.
Nicodemus who is from Vimtim, a village in Mubi North LGA, allegedly missed his mission by torching the room in the compound of Daniel Cha’ama where the children were sleeping, thus killing nine-year-old Chimba Daniel and leaving four other victims with severe burns.
The other children, said to be badly burnt, are named as Dida Daniel, Isaac Daniel, Nglacha Daniel and Emmanuel Hyeldinga.
It’s gathered on Tuesday that Nicodemus and Cha’ama had been having dispute over a land and were even in court twice.
Witnesses said that Ajaku, after perpetuating the arson attack in Mubi, fled the village and has remained at large.
Little Chimba Daniel reportedly died due to severity of the burns he suffered as he was being driven for care to the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital in the state capital, Yola.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa State, SP Suleiman Nguroje, has assured that the culprit would be fished out and prosecuted.
Nguroje said also that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Morris Dankwambo had directed his command to assist the victims now receiving treatment