Gist
Why Our Son Decided To Set His House, Children On Fire – Family
The family of an arsonist identified as Tajudeen Salami, who set his house in Kwara ablaze with his children inside, have explained the reason for his actions.
Naija News recalls that the suspect, in July, set his house ablaze over a disagreement with his wife in the Lekki Phase 1, Eyenkorin Area of Ilorin, Kwara State capital.
Salami’s wife and the children were rescued by men of the State Fire Service during the incident.
A member of the family identified simply as Moji told Daily Trust that Salami and his wife, Halimah Folashade has been battling marital issues for years.
She explained that Halimah denied her husband sex for over a year and it was later discovered that one of his children was not biologically his.
She explained that after the divorce, his wife refused to leave the house and also prevented him from selling it.
She further said, “Although we know what our brother did is wrong, he was not aware that the children were inside because he didn’t bother to check due to prolonged anger and frustration that was almost leading him to suicide.
“I feel he thought that was the only way to evacuate his wife from the property. Not that he wanted to kill Folashade and the children: Halimah, Ibrahim, Aisha and Suliah.”
She said the period also coincided with the time Salami was looking for money to offset the debt of his son, Ibrahim, which ran into several millions of naira.
Spokesperson of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle also confirmed the incident stating that “The man sprayed the three-bedroom flat with petrol before setting it ablaze with the children inside claiming his wife was frustrating him.”
Speaking on the development on Wednesday, the estranged wife said “that all these allegations against me are false and mere propaganda to whip up public sentiment in his favour.
“If I have been denying him sex, how will I have four children for him. This is all I can say for now. I will speak further if he comes out himself.’’
