The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested one Lami Clement, 22, for allegedly setting a pregnant housewife ablaze.
The suspect, who hails from the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state, attacked the victim, Amina Ayodele, 23, an indigene of Akinyele LGA in Oyo State, in her house.
She was said to have bought a gallon of petrol, which she poured on Amina and then took a lighter with which she set her ablaze.
The victim reportedly sustained burns on her face, hands and thighs.
The suspect said she had a relationship with the husband of the victim, Mustapha Ayodele, for three years, but he jilted her and married Amina.
She said, “I did not actually go there to burn his wife; my intention was to go to his house and burn all his property. I did not know his wife was in the house. He jilted me after long years of relationship and married another woman.”
Amina, who is currently recuperating at the Orthopaedic ward of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, said she was in her house on that day when she heard a knock on the door and she opened it.
She said after the suspect entered the house, she brought out a gallon, poured petrol on her and lighted it.
“Although my husband told me that Lami (Clement) tried to discourage him from marrying me because she had some affection for him, he did not know that she could go to the extent of harming me,” she added.
The husband of the victim, Mustapha, denied dating Clement.
He said, “I have never dated Lami (Clement) in my life. I only counselled her on how to go about her life affairs. Why would she attack my three months old pregnant wife just because she admires me?”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Mahmoud Mohammed, said the suspect had been charged to court.