Suspected arsonists invaded the residence of Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa Sani, a 75-year-old elder sister of the Attah Igala, Mathew Opaluwa, in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State. The attackers set the house ablaze, resulting in the death of Meimunat Opaluwa Sani and her granddaughter, Hajarat, in the early hours of Thursday.
According to a family source, the assailants arrived with petrol, poured it on the house, and ignited the fire while the elderly woman was asleep alongside her daughter and granddaughter. Tragically, the five-year-old granddaughter, Hajarat, died immediately from severe burns, while Meimunat Opaluwa Sani and her daughter were rushed to an undisclosed hospital. Meimunat later succumbed to her injuries, while her daughter is still battling for her life.
The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaib Audu, expressed his heartfelt condolences to the paramount ruler of Igala Kingdom, Mathew Opaluwa, describing the deaths as tragic and sacrilegious. He called on security agencies to investigate the alleged arson and bring the perpetrators to justice.
As of the time of reporting, the Kogi State Police Command and the state Security Adviser are yet to react to the incident, and efforts to reach them have been unsuccessful. The motive behind the attack remains unknown.
