SUSPECTED arsonists have set ablaze a 75-year-old woman, Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa-Sani, in Oketekwe in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State. She is said to be sister to the Attah of Igala, Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa II,
The septuagenarian perished along with her five-year-old granddaughter identified as Onechojo in the incident that occurred in the early hours of Thursday. He first daughter, Hajarat Usman Sani, who was also with them at the time of the attack, is still fighting for her life.
The late Opaluwa-Sani was bestowed with the traditional title of Akwuma Attah Igala in 2023 by the Attah.
A family source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak, said: “A group of people came to the house with petrol while our grandmother, with her daughter and granddaughter, was sleeping. They poured the petrol on the house and set fire to it.
“The five-year-old died immediately from severe burns while Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa Sani and her own daughter were rushed to the hospital. Mallama later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital while her daughter is still fighting for her life.”
The remains of the senior citizen and her granddaughter have been buried according to Islamic rites.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, William Ovye Aya, stated that the police were yet to receive any information about the incident. He promised to get back to our correspondent as soon as information about the incident was made available to the command.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, has condoled with the Attah of Igala, Alaji Mathew Opaluwa, over the death of his sister and her granddaughter.
Prince Audu, in his condolence message made available by his Special Assistant on Media, Lizzy Okoji, on Friday in Abuja, described the deaths as tragic and urged everyone to remain strong.
He called on security agencies to investigate the alleged arson and bring the perpetrators to book.
Audu said: “It is with a heavy heart that I condole with our father, HRM, Alaji Mathew Opaluwa and the royal family over the deaths of his sister and her granddaughter, whose lives were taken in the most painful manner.
“I also commiserate with the entire people of Igala Kingdom at this time because this is a loss to every one of us.
“I call on security agencies to investigate the alleged arson and bring the perpetuators of this act to book so that it would serve as a deterrent to others. Such acts of sacrilege must be discouraged in our land.
“I pray that Almighty Allah grant the souls of the late Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa, and her granddaughter, Onechojo, Aljanah Firdaus. I also pray Almighty Allah grants the family the heart to bear the loss.”
Following the attack, the senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, called for increased security in the state.
Senator Natasha, in a statement issued on Friday by her Chief Press Secretary, Arogbonlo Israel, condemned the alleged that led to the death of Opaluwa-Sani and her granddaughter.
She recalled: “Last week, twenty-one travellers were kidnapped on the Ajaokuta-Itobe Road, but all thanks to security operatives who reportedly rescued all the victims.
“Also, a popular juju artiste, Omoba De Jumbo Beats, and his band members, last month, were kidnapped in Kogi and later released after family members and well-wishers rallied round to pay their ransom.
“In November 2023, a member of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Imaobong Samuel, alongside 11 other passengers, was also kidnapped on her way to the Kogi State orientation camp.”
The lawmaker, therefore, urged the government to ensure the security of all citizens at all times while calling for the deployment of technology to improve the level of security in the state and the country at large.
Also, Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho (Kogi East), reacting to the incident in a statement on Friday, described the attack as callous, inhumane and barbaric.
He called on the police and other security agencies to go after the criminals behind the heinous act.
“While I condemn this act on our respected senior citizen and the Akwuma Attah Igala, I commiserate with the families of the departed and pray that they will be consoled with the belief that death is inevitable and a debt to be paid by every human. Justice will be pursued and we will ensure that this dastardly act won’t repeat itself in Kogi East.
“I also extend my condolences to the Attah Igala and the Royal Family.
“We can’t condone such act in Igalaland. It is an affront on all of us,” he said.
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