10 tenants burnt, several cars destroyed as unknown persons set house ablaze in Ebonyi community

No fewer than 10 tenants have been hospitalised in various clinics in Afikpo, in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State after yet-to-be identified persons set their house ablaze on Saturday.

The inferno, which started around 2am, also destroyed a computer centre and shops at Mgbom village, where the incident happened.

It was gathered that the perpetrators, after setting the house on fire, vandalised cars parked around the area.

A reliable community source said, “They poured fuel round the building and lit it. The owner of the building died sometime ago and the ownership of the house had been in contention. A nephew of the house owner is dragging it with someone they call landlady.”

The source noted that the police had visited the scene, adding that the landlady had been invited to make statements.

The Divisional Police Officer in the area, Mr Livinus Nwenyim, said his men were working to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“We have visited those who sustained injuries and they are stable. Our concern is for them to be well. But we are investigating the incident,” Nwenyim said.