By; ADAMA JOHN,, Lokoja
Some people suspected to be arsonists but yet to be identified by security operatives, have set ablaze the 75-year old sister of the Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty, Mathew Alaji Opaluwa, whose name is given as Mrs. Meimunat Opaluwa Sani together with her grand daughter in down town Idah in Kogi State.
Our state correspondent learnt from dependable sources that the incident happened in the early hours of Thursday at her Oketekwe residence in Idah Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered from eye witnesses close to the area of the incident, that the crime also consumed the first daughter of the deceased, Hajarat Usman Sani and a five year old granddaughter identified as Onechojo who also fell prey to the ubiquitous claws of the arsonists.
A source close to the family spoke off record said that some group of people came to the house with petrol, while our grandmother was sleeping alongside her daughter and granddaughter, sprayed the house and set it ablaze.
The source said, “Mama of the five-year old grand daughter died immediately after having severe burns, while the grandmother, Mrs Meimunat Opaluwa Sani alongside her own daughter were rushed to an undisclosed hospital, but later gave up the ghost soon afterwards while her own daughter was still battling for her life as at the time of filing this report.
The late Meimunat Opaluwa Sani was holding the traditional title of Akwuma Attah Igala since 2023.
Meanwhile, the remains of late Meimunat Opaluwa Sani and the five-year old granddaughter have been laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites.
When contacted, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, said they are yet to get any information about the incident, promising to get back to correspondents as soon as information is made available to the command on the incident.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, has condemned the killing of Mrs Opaluwa Sani and her granddaughter, describing it as tragic.
In a condolence message to the Ata Igala, His Royal Majesty Mathew Alaji Opaluwa, the Minister who hails from the Igala kingdom, said the death of Mrs Opoluwa Sani, a traditional title holder of Akwuna Ata Igala is a great loss to the entire Igala kingdom.
The condolence message conveyed through the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media Lizy Okoji, urged everyone to remain strong.
” It is with heavy heart that I condole with our father, His Royal Majesty, Mathew Alaji Opaluwa and the Royal family over the death of your sister and her granddaughter, whose lives were taken in the most painful manner”, the Minister stated.
Prince Audu therefore, urged security agencies to investigate the alleged arson and bring the perpetrators to book for the heinous crime.
