A 56-year-old man, Madarikan Emehinola, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command over the alleged murder of his estranged wife, 40-year-ought- old Igbagbo Erobe, whose body was discovered after her father's house was set ablaze in the Igbo Edu area of Abigi, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect allegedly killed the mother of six before setting the building on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence of the crime.
However, Emehinola had denied involvement in the incident, claiming that the deceased had ended their relationship after telling him that she was no longer interested in him and had found another man.
It was gathered that two residents of the building reportedly sighted the suspect fleeing the scene with a five-litre keg containing petrol shortly after the fire started.
The witnesses, identified as Seun and another resident, reportedly raised the alarm and alerted the deceased's relatives and security operatives in the area.
Following a search, security personnel in a neighbouring community reportedly spotted and arrested the suspect at a junction.
The police were said to have recovered the keg, which allegedly contained some remaining petrol, from him.
Investigators were also said to have discovered bloodstains suspected to be connected with the killing on the petrol container.
A police source at the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Ogun State Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident was linked to the breakdown of the relationship between the deceased and the suspect.
The source said, "There was a woman named Igbagbo Erobe, a resident of Igbo Edu in the Abigi area of Ogun Waterside. The woman and the suspect, Madarikan Emehinola, were lovers for about two years.
"Early this year, the woman abandoned him and started a new relationship with another man. On October 18, 2026, the man went to Igbo Edu at about 1am with petrol in a five-litre keg to kill the woman.
"After killing the woman, he set her father's house on fire. One Seun Igbamerun and another person saw him running away with the five-litre keg of petrol while the house was burning.
"They raised the alarm and alerted the woman's relatives and security agencies in the area. A search was launched for him, and some security operatives in a nearby community spotted him at a junction.
"Following inquiries, they established that he was the person being sought.
"He was arrested with the remaining petrol in the keg and handed over to the police at Abigi Divisional Police Station."
However, the suspect, an indigene of Igbokoda in Ondo State, told investigators that he had stopped visiting the deceased after she allegedly informed him that she had found another partner.
He said, "She was my wife and we were living together until January this year, when she told me that she wanted to return home to work. We were both living in Ondo State, but the place was not too far from her place in Ogun State.
"Since she returned home to work, I had been visiting her in Igbo Edu. There was a time I spent four days with her. I had been spending between four and seven days at her place since she returned to Ogun State to work.
"However, around June this year, she called me and warned me not to come to Igbo Edu again. She told me that she had a new husband and was no longer interested in me. I was surprised because we had no disagreement, but I did not say anything.
"One of my friends, who is based in Igbo Edu, also called me and said my wife had a new husband and advised me not to visit the place again.
"Since that day, I made up my mind not to go there again, and I have not returned. I was surprised when I was accused of going to Igbo Edu to set her father's house on fire."
Emehinola further claimed that he was arrested at Obi Market at about 3am on a market day, insisting that he had gone there to sell his goods.
He said he sold cassava, fishing nets, firewood and other items at different markets in the area.
The suspect added that the five-litre keg was intended for purchasing petrol for his engine boat after the day's sales.
"I wanted to use the keg to buy petrol for my engine boat after selling my goods. I did not know that my father-in-law's house had been burnt until I was arrested and taken to Igbo Edu," he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Oluseyi Banaseyi, condemned the incident and expressed condolences to the family of the deceased.
Banaseyi reiterated the commitment of the Commissioner of Police, CP Olubode Ojajuni, to ensuring that criminal elements were brought to justice.
He said, "The Ogun State Police Command strongly condemns this tragic incident. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased.
"Investigation is ongoing, and we assure the public that every effort will be made to establish the facts and ensure that justice is served."