Black Weekend: 77 Year Old Woman Burnt Alive By Suspected Assassins In Anambra

By Ignatius Okpara, Awka

Tears flow freely on the cheeks of sympathizers at the weekend in Obosi, Idemili North council Area of Anambra state, as a 77 year old woman identified as Mrs. Grace Orizu, was roasted alive when her son’s five-room bungalow was allegedly set ablaze by suspected arsonists.

The ugly incident which took place at Little Wood Estate, Obosi, threw the entire town into apprehension.

AFRICAN EXAMINER gathered that her nine year old house help, Miss Progress Nwachukwu , miraculously cheated death as neighbours who ran to the scene managed to rescue him alive from the kitchen where he had hidden as the fire rages.

It was further learnt that the arsonists were after the life of the owner of the house and second son of the deceased, Emeka Orizu, who was recently elected as Chairman of Little Wood Estate, Obosi.

Sources alleged that the perpetrator, had sneaked into the compound at about 3p.m on Saturday, and quietly sprinkled some liquid substances suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) all over the building, including its roof top and ignited the fire on it.

Reacting to the barbaric act during his visit to the scene Sunday, the traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, said it was painful that not even a pin was recovered from the bungalow as both the zink, window louvres and all the household items were completely consumed by the fire disaster.

While narrating the incident to Monarch, the owner of the building, Mr. Orizu, said he left the house at about 2 p.m for Ihiala on a condolence visit to his in-laws only to be called on phone by his wife at about 3.30 p.m. and informed that somebody told her that their house was on fire.

He said that he noticed some clandestine movements by some suspected criminal elements around the house before he left for the condolence visit.

Orizu, told the traditional ruler that he had already lodged a complaint at the Obosi Police Station, where he even mentioned names of those he suspected to have set the house ablaze.

According to him, same group of persons who are opposing the Igwe, are also after him because shortly after he won the election as Chairman of Little Wood Estate, Obosi, he sent a warning signal to all the cultists and illicit drug peddlers residing in the Estate to relocate or risk being exposed, as he was not ready to harbour them and criminal other elements in the estate.

He said the wicked action followed his resolve to sustain the war against drug trafficking in the estate.

Meanwhile, Igwe Iweka, has called on the State Government and security operatives to carry out thorough investigation on the incident, with a view to ensuring that perpetrators of the dastardly act are brought to book.